Engineering Diploma Research Articles

Roadblocks to university education for diploma engineers in Bangladesh

PurposeDiploma Engineers (DE) mainly receive practical and skills-oriented education and training in the area of technical and vocational subjects from the polytechnic system. Globally, universities have limited DEs access to Higher Education (HE). Over the course of time, many countries have changed this situation, putting into place a decent qualification and policy framework that ensures higher education for deserving candidates. Lately, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) received special priority in developing countries, and Bangladesh is no exception to it, resulting in a massive growth of DE. This study, the first of its kind, examines the impact of this growth with a key focus on the inclusion of diploma engineers into higher education.Design/methodology/approachGiven the differentiated nature of research questions, multiple techniques are used to collect the data. However, this research uses the qualitative method. Both secondary and primary data are used. While secondary data are collected by the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS), primary data are collected through interviews. With standard sets of admission questions, tests are conducted with two groups of students to draw a comparison.FindingsThe number of students studying at polytechnic institutes is increasing dramatically. The growth of public polytechnic institutes remains steady. Public counterparts respond to the demand by operating both day and night shifts. Many private polytechnics are also established. The size and infrastructure of private Polytechnics are relatively insignificant. However, the mushrooming private sector covers the increased demand. The curve of DE has been increased radically with a questionable competency by the contribution of both public and private polytechnics. Only one public university provides higher education to these DE.Originality/valueA few reports have been published in the area of TVET by the development partners and the Government of Bangladesh. Only one journal article is published exploring the role of TVET on national development in Bangladesh. However, none cover the issue of access to university education for DE graduates.

Readiness of Polytechnic Manufacturing Program in Malaysia towards Future Industry

Polytechnic education was introduced in Malaysia with funding from the World Bank in 1969. The purpose is to be one of Malaysia’s education provider to access quality in produce holistic, enterprising and competitive human capital in line with global industrial needs. Currently, there are 37 polytechnics in they that offered quality programs with relevant curriculum. One of the programs is Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (Manufacturing) is competent skills in the field of mechanical engineering to fulfill the demand of workers in the engineering manufacturing sector. For remain competitive especially in terms of future technology advancement, this program needs to be revised so that the students who are produced can meet the requirements of the future industry specially to face the challenging in Industrial Revolution 4.0(IR4.0). To get the clear situation, the qualitative study had been conducting with the interview method to identify how far the adequate of polytechnic manufacturing program towards IR4.0 regarding the readiness of student competency, the effect of the changes and actions taken by polytechnics management. From the findings, it shown that the manufacturing programs in Polytechnic Malaysia need to arrange the strategy to make sure the student or the graduates that they develop can fulfil IR4.0 skills and competencies related.

A Needs analysis on the development of problem based learning module for the microcontroller subject at Vocational College

Based on the analysis of student achievement throughout Vocational Colleges in Malaysia, it was found that the Microcontroller subject had the lowest achievement compared to other subjects. The results of the achievement analysis also show that students have difficulty achieving good results in the subject of Microcontroller. This indicates the need for improved implementation of the Microcontroller teaching and learning system implemented in the classroom. In regard to this matter, this study aims to identify the difficulty level of the six main topics (unit 1 - 6) and sub-topics in ETN5044 as well as the perception of the lecturers and students towards the existing module and the teaching and learning methods of the Microcontroller subject. The findings of this study shall initiate the phase of developing a learning module for the Microcontroller (ETN5044) subject using Problem Based Learning (PBL). The needs analysis also aims to determine whether the product meets the learning needs of the students. An observation was conducted involving 27 lecturers and 322 students who enroll into the 6th semester of the Electronic Technology diploma programme at several Vocational Colleges in Malaysia. The findings show that the majority of lecturers and students regard the sub-topics for topic 2 that is “Applying the instruction set of Microcontrollers” as difficult with average mean values of lecturers being 2.96, 3.07, 3.00 and 3.10, while mean values for students were 2.19, 2.21, 2.16, and 2.30. Their perception also indicates that the PBL module has never been implemented. Such findings support for the development of a learning module particularly for students undertaking the Microcontroller subject.

The Effectiveness of the "Image Processing" Learning Practice Learning Model in Informatics Engineering Diploma Program

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of practical learning models for Image Processing Subjects in the Diploma III Informatics Engineering program that suits the needs of the industrial community. The research method used in this study is ex post facto with data collection techniques using a questionnaire. Research results and data analysis from the effectiveness test of learning model learning. showed that the results of the study were obtained in the amount of 12.5% of respondents rated the practice learning model in the image processing course included in the category of quite effective, other respondents in the amount of 25% rated that the learning model used was included in the effective category. Whereas 62.5% considered that the learning model developed was included in the very effective category. The analysis shows that the largest percentage is 62.5% in the analysis of the effectiveness of learning using the learning model included in the category of very effective. Thus it can be concluded that the learning model developed is included in the very effective category. Reliability test for the two validators after validating the model of teaching practice in Image Processing courses, in the process of producing the first table of statistical reliability which shows the output if estimated using the Alpha coefficient. The table shows a satisfactory Alpha reliability of 0.385. In the second table is the output of the analysis through ANOVA. From these outputs, there is no difference in ratings between rater (p> 0.05) and the third table shows ICC output with less satisfactory inter-rater reliability, ie rxx = 0.015, thus the results of the reliability test of the teaching practice model of reliable Image Processing courses .

Level of Metacognitive Awareness Strategies among Technical Students

Metacognitive strategy awareness is important to solve many problems especially in the teaching and learning process as well as in one’s career. This survey aims to identify the level of metacognitive awareness strategies among polytechnic students according to demographics, and also the difference between the level of metacognitive awareness strategies based on gender and the field of study of students. The sample of the study consists of 361 students who attended Diploma in Civil Engineering (132 students), Diploma in Electrical Engineering (121 students) and Diploma inMechanical Engineering (108 students). The design of this study is survey using the quantitative approach. The research instrument used is the Metacognitive Strategies Awareness Inventory (MAI) with two main constructs, knowledge of cognitive and regulation of cognitive. These are used to determine the level of metacognitive awareness strategies. All data was analyzed using SPSS software and presented in the form of mean score, frequency and percentage. The results show that all male and female students have high level in metacognitive strategies awareness. The T-Test analysis shows that there is a significant difference in the level of awareness of metacognitive strategies between male and female students ( ρ = .021< .05). Furthermore, the ANOVA test analysis also shows that there is a significant difference in the level of awareness of metacognitive strategies based on the field of study of the students ( ρ = .016< .05). Therefore, it can be concluded that the awareness of metacognitive strategies should be applied to students to produce effective teaching and improve students’ learning achievement.

Development of “Image Processing” Practical Learning Model On Diploma Program Informatics Engineering Department

This research was conducted by students of Informatics Engineering diploma program at the Teachers’ Training College in Central Java. This study uses a research model for the development of a 4D model learning system. Before the research was carried out the initial needs analysis on the Practical Image Processing learning that took place so far in the Informatics Engineering diploma program. This research aims to find out the suitability of the practice learning model needed by the industrial world. The results of the initial needs analysis show that the practical learning model is needed by students in improving the ability and skills of the Image Processing field. The stages in developing practical learning use 4D as follows: 1) defining; 2) design; 3) development; 4) dissemination. The four stages include: a) lecturer and student observation; b) designing teaching materials; c) design of practicum modules; d) designing practicum instructions; e) designing practicum tools; f) validation of teaching materials experts, practice modules, media practice tools; g) limited trial.In this study is still in the development stage, for the dissemination phase in further research. In the desimanation stage is a wide dissemination stage of the results of the design of practical learning models

Developing and tracking profiles of student conceptions of force through an engineering degree

Research over the last four decades has shown that common misconceptions about force can be particularly resistant to change. The development of Newtonian ideas of force is important in many branches of engineering, particularly in the understanding of structures and the mechanics of machines. While these ideas are important in engineering, evidence from assessment shows that while students are able to solve problems and perform at a relatively high level, they have often not fully understood the underlying Newtonian concepts. In order to detect and ameliorate these misconceptions, a number of excellent diagnostic tools have been developed. Probably the most well-known of these are the Force Concept Inventory (FCI) and the Mechanics baseline test (MBT), developed by David Hestenes and his colleagues at Arizona state university [1]. Both of these tests been statistically validated and used worldwide in many different contexts. Evidence from data collected in 2016 shows that students in their final year of study perform as poorly as those in their first year on the FCI. What is not shown by these data is the way in which the students’ conceptual profiles change as they progress through their courses of study. Conceptual profiles can be used to map the evolution of student conceptual thinking [2–3]. In this project, we use the FCI to develop conceptual profiles for individual students enrolled on two programmes of study; the Bachelor of Engineering Technology and the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering, both of which start with introductory physics courses, but rely on force concepts throughout the qualification. Our intention is to track the evolution of these profiles as the students’ progress through their programmes of study. The study is in the first year of a three year cycle and this paper outlines the research design and reports on the changes that have taken place in the first six months of the students’ qualification, after they have completed a basic mechanics course.

Guest Editorial: Security and Privacy in Cloud‐based Systems

Guest Editorial: Security and Privacy in Cloud‐based Systems

Relationship of Secondary School Mathematics Achievement with Engineering Mathematics 2 in Polytechnics

Engineering Mathematics 2 is one of the core courses for all diploma-level engineering students in Malaysian Polytechnic. From the statistics obtained, students achievement in the Engineering Mathematics 2 course (DBM2013) is still moderate and less satisfactory. This is because the subject of Engineering Mathematics 2 is mostly related to calculus and only students who have taken Additional Mathematics subject during secondary school had a basic in the Engineering Mathematics 2. Thus, this research was developed to see the relationship and influence of Mathematics subject during secondary school level, especially Additional Mathematics with the subject of Engineering Mathematics 2 in Polytechnic. High school achievement was measured using the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination results in Additional and Modern Mathematic subjects. Meanwhile, the results in the polytechnic level were measured from the final result of the Engineering Mathematics 2 course. The research used secondary data obtained from the examination unit from 2442 students of Semester 2 of Diploma in Civil Engineering (JKA), Diploma in Electrical Engineering (JKE) and Diploma in Mechanical Engineering JKM) at Polytechnic Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin (PSMZA). Data obtained were processed and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and Statistical Packages For Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 through Easy Linear Regression Analysis. The findings from the regression analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the achievement of Mathematics during secondary schools with the achievement of Engineering Mathematics 2 in polytechnics and it also proved that Additional Mathematics is one of the medium for student’s excellence in Engineering Mathematics 2 at polytechnics.

Nanostructured Metallic Materials and Composites: Processes, Properties and Microstructures

Nanostructured Metallic Materials and Composites: Processes, Properties and Microstructures

Jean-Pierre Flatt, PhD (1933-2018)

Jean-Pierre Flatt, PhD (1933-2018)

Advanced Biofuels of the Future: Atom-Economical or Energy-Economical?

Professor Maravelias obtained his Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, an MSc from the London School of Economics (London, UK), and a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University. He joined the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004, where he is currently the Paul A. Elfers and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor. His research interests lie in the general area of process systems engineering and optimization. Specifically, he is studying production planning and scheduling, supply chain optimization, and chemical process synthesis with emphasis on renewable energy technologies. Download : Download high-res image (209KB) Download : Download full-size image Peyman Fasahati obtained his BSc and MSc from Sharif University of Technology in Iran, and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Pukyong National University in 2015 in South Korea. He worked on process design, technoeconomic, and life cycle analysis of biofuels and biochemicals production from seaweed biomass. He was a postdoctoral associate at Michigan State University and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) from 2016 to 2017. Currently, he is a postdoctoral associate at University of Wisconsin-Madison and GLBRC working on process synthesis and analysis of biomass-to-biofuel processes. Download : Download high-res image (261KB) Download : Download full-size image

Forced Migration of Rohingya: An Untold Experience

The mass exodus of Rohingya people from Myanmar in 2017, has been recognised as the fastest growing refugee influx in the world and these refugees are currently living in the most densely populated camps in the world in Cox’s Bazar district in Bangladesh. The long-standing, recurring crackdowns have left an estimated population of only 200,000 in Myanmar of an estimated 2.4 million Rohingya across the world. The recent mass exodus has been described by United Nation’s officials as a classic case of ethnic cleansing (Washington Post, October 12, 2017) and a hallmark of genocide (CNN, March 13, 2018). Alongside humanitarian urgencies, there are numerous challenges, including human rights, legal and geopolitical issues, and economic and environmental implications. Thus, the Rohingya Crisis demands multiple and multidimensional approaches to help Rohingya people with immediate rehabilitation and finding a sustainable solution through repatriation to Myanmar. This current report presents the findings of an international collaborative research effort that entailed interviewing 3,300 Rohingya households living in the makeshift camp, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The report investigates various dimensions of the life of Rohingya people in Myanmar and the extent and nature of atrocities experienced in Myanmar. This report also provides the socio-political and cultural contexts of Rohingya people and their experiences before fleeing to Bangladesh. One of the major contributions of this report is revealing the types and extent of long-term social, economic and political exclusion that Rohingya people faced at a community and national level in Myanmar. This project investigates the socio-political and cultural context of Rohingya people and their experiences before fleeing to Bangladesh. It investigates the socio-economic lives of Rohingya people, and the emergence of various issues connected with short- and long-term rehabilitation and resettlement in Bangladesh. The project examines ethnicity and preservation of cultural heritage, their sources or earning and the levels of economic activities of Rohingya people in the Bangladesh camps. It also documents the health and wellbeing of Rohingya refugees living there. One of the major contributions of this project is to record the responses and reactions of Rohingya people about the repatriation process, and possible compensation for their losses before returning to Myanmar. This research utilised a researcher-constructed semi-structured interview guide and a qualitative interview guide for primary data collection. The findings reveal far greater incidence of murder, rape, beatings and gunshot wounds experienced by Rohingya people in the August 2017 incident before fleeing to Bangladesh that has been reported previously. Crimes against property in terms of houses burned down, crops and businesses damaged and theft are also estimated at levels above those previously reported. Most respondents wanted to return as soon as possible to Myanmar, but wanted citizenship to be granted to them and for perpetrators of crimes to be prosecuted first. The key findings of the research, based on 650,000 refugees, are as follows: 93 per cent reported experiencing discrimination in Myanmar. 97 per cent of participants reported witnessing their neighbours being injured by Myanmar authorities. 82 per cent of participants reported witnessing their neighbours’ death or saw dead bodies in Myanmar before fleeing. 59 per cent of participants reported witnessing neighbours who had been victims of rape by Myanmar authorities. 85 per cent of participants reported witnessing the burning down of their own or neighbours’ homes. When family members are included, an estimated 115,000 Rohingya were beaten by Myanmar authorities. When family members are included, an estimated 42,000 Rohingya received gunshot wounds. An estimated 35,000 Rohingya people were thrown into fire. An estimated 24,800 Rohingya people were murdered. An estimated 18,500 women and adolescents were raped. 52 per cent of the refugees eat two types of food only within the Camp (generally rice and a vegetable) and may suffer malnutrition due to inadequate food intake. Over 79 per cent were willing to return to Myanmar as soon as possible. Over 96 per cent demanded recognition of Rohingya ethnicity or citizenship by the Myanmar Government as a precondition for their repatriation to Myanmar. These findings reveal a high level of atrocities perpetrated against Rohyinga. They suffered killings much higher than numbers reported to date by other sources and hence demand further examination, including a credible and independent investigation. This project is conducted by a research consortium consisting of academics and practitioners from Australia, Canada and Norway and national and international institutional partners, namely ASA Philippines Foundation, Ontario International Development Agency, Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB), Education for Skill Development (ESD) and Film for Peace Foundation (F4P).

Bridging the Gap Between the Students and Teachers’ Perspectives on the Learners’ Needs to Prepare the English Course Materials

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Learning Outcomes Mapping of the Three Year-Electronic Engineering Diploma in Level-5 Professional Expertise of the National Qualification Framework

The issue of enhancing national competitiveness, in ASEAN, has been strengthened since the establishment of ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. The recognition of graduate competence becomes very crucial for this era. Polytechnic as vocational higher education needs to prepare its graduates in order to compete in the job market, such as through professional certification. This study aimed at mapping the learning outcomes among graduates of the three year - diploma in Electronic Engineering in Polytechnic of Instrumentation and Electronic Control System on professional qualification based on level-5 Indonesian National Qualifications Framework Curriculum and Indonesia Industrial Standard Classification 2015. This study used a qualitative method. Data were collected through observation and interviews of the competent persons to provide related research data. The results showed that the learning outcomes of the three year diploma in Electronic Engineering were suitable for the work of the services and processing industry category. This map can be used to develop learning outcomes into a professional competence for a particular job in accordance with the qualifications of the graduate program.

Transitioning from diploma to degree – impact on engineering students’ self-efficacy, expectancies, values and self-regulation

ABSTRACTThe impact of transitioning from an engineering diploma programme to an engineering degree programme for engineering students within the socio-economic context of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries is still limited to anecdotal evidence. The purpose of this study is to utilise the Self-efficacy theory, Expectancy-Value Theory and the Self-regulation theory with the aim of identifying students’ perceptions when exposed to degree level studies for the first time. Based on data obtained from a questionnaire survey, descriptive and inferential statistics are applied, including consideration of students’ achievement and gender. Mean values of self-efficacy, expectancy as well as interest, attainment and utility values decrease, whereas students’ self-regulation increases during the study period. High correlations are found between self-efficacy and expectancy, with further increased correlations at the end of the study period. It is concluded that clarification of the degree challenges at the beginning of the first degree semester needs improvement, male students require more encouragement to take the new learning environment as a positive challenge and that all students reflect increased maturity at the end of the study period.

Implementation of Open-Ended Laboratory (OEL) in Environmental Engineering Subject for Civil Engineering Diploma Program

An open-ended laboratory is where students are given the freedom to develop their own experiments, instead of merely following the already set guidelines from a lab manual or elsewhere. It will create the students to think critically and also out of the box. The students here have to devise their own strategies and back them with explanations, theory and logical justification. One of the subjects that implement OEL in Civil Engineering Diploma Program is Environmental Engineering subject. The students have to work in groups to come out with the laboratory reports and they also have to undergo 2 practical tests which have to be done individually. The laboratory reports were used to measure their teamwork and practical skills while the practical tests measure the psychomotor ability. Overall marks for OEL reports for this subject shows that all groups achieved 78% marks and above. As for practical tests marks indicate that practical test 1 is higher than practical test 2. It is proved that by implementing OEL, increased the independent learning amongst students by giving them a platform to be innovative and creative in designing and executing their own experiments.

Guest Editorial

Guest Editorial

ANALYSIS ON THE PATTERN OF USING THE SERVICE OF REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURE MAKING IN A DENTAL LABORATORY IN SURABAYA

The making of removable denture is performed by a dental laboratory. To facilitate the identification, according to Kennedy classification, classes are divided onto groups, the Kennedy class I, II, III and IV. To suit with the needs of the dental laboratory tasks commonly done, priority are necessary for common cases and should to be taught to students of Dental Health Technology Diploma. In Surabaya, research of various cases of removable partial denture with the various Kennedy classifications has never been done before. This study was to analyze the pattern of service for the removable partial denture manufacture in dental laboratory at Surabaya (2011 – 2013). The research is an observatory analytic. The population is all dental laboratories located around the campus of the Faculty of Dentistry Airlangga University Surabaya. The sample was the whole population is willing to become respondents. Sampling by total sampling. The method of collecting data using secondary data from a dental laboratory in Surabaya from 2011 until 2013. The note is cases removable denture according to the classification of Kennedy that Kennedy Class I, II, III and IV. Also of note kinds of materials used to make the denture base that is heat cured acrylic resins, thermoplastic resins and metals coherent. The data is a compilation table charting the frequency until needed, then analyzed using cross tabulation. Mostly denture type is flexible type and the least is metal framework. Most cases by classification Kennedy is followed by class II class III and class II and more recently is the fourth. In conclusion, in 2011 and 2013 the manufacture of removable partial dentures according to the classification of Kennedy Class III is the most common in both the upper arch and lower jaw, followed by Class II, Class I and Class IV. In 2012 which is the highest grade III followed by class II, class IV and class I. The denture type most used is a flexible denture, followed acrylic denture and the last is the metal framework.

Progreen online engineering diploma in the Middle East: assessment of the educational experience

ABSTRACTLittle is known about the status of online learning in the Middle East. This study investigates educational experiences of engineers enrolled in the new joint online ProGreen diploma programme offered by three universities, two in Lebanon and one in Egypt. Forty-eight working engineers responded to an online survey based on the three components of the community of inquiry model: social presence, teaching presence, and cognitive presence. Exploratory factor analysis identified five factors: sense of belonging, self-directedness, self-actualisation, interaction, and instructional guidance. The findings showed that sense of belonging was the factor engineers rated highest but it did not correlate with instructional guidance. However, instructional guidance highly correlated with self-directedness and self-actualisation.