Impacts of a humanitarian engineering education pathway on student learning and graduate outcomes

Abstract

This study explores student outcomes from engagement with a humanitarian engineering pathway embedded in the core of an undergraduate engineering degree program. The pathway provides multiple engagements with humanitarian engineering including assignment topics, study abroad experiences and service-learning projects. A mixed-method study over 18 months collected survey data from education initiatives concurrently with graduate interviews to identify outcomes from student engagement. A set of seven outcome themes were identified including additional motivations for study, the development of professional skills, and an enhanced perception of employability. The research demonstrates the contribution of humanitarian engineering to the development of contemporary engineers as well as to support greater diversity and cultural change in engineering. However, challenges were identified particularly for work experience and career opportunities. The research proposes future works evaluating outcomes from multiple universities to develop a more complete picture of the impacts of humanitarian engineering at a national level.