Engineering Graduates Research Articles

Exploring the Essential Higher Order Cognitive Skills (HOCS) for the Employability of Engineering Graduates in Bangladesh

Employability of engineering graduates is largely impacted by their higher order cognitive skills. In addition to their academic knowledge and technical capabilities, graduates need HOCS. Employers give a larger value on HOCS than on technical abilities. For career-long employment sustainability, these skills are essential success factors. Employability is significantly correlated with HOCS. To succeed in the job, engineers require HOCS. Technical skills are valued by employers throughout the hiring process, but as engineering careers progress, employers give more emphasis on HOCS. However, not every level of a person's career requires the same set of HOCS. At a certain point in a career, employers look for different HOCS. Starting with early career, moving through mid-career, and ending with advanced career, this research attempts to uncover those HOCS accountable for workplace success meeting employer’s expectations. Both graduates with a diploma and a bachelor's degree in engineering have been covered by this study. The majority of engineers share the same Intelligent Quotient (IQ) on an average. Technical skill gaps are easily bridged with quick trainings. The only things that set engineers apart from the masses are HOCS, which are primarily higher order brain-based executive functions. Employability is influenced by numerous factors. Only the employability's absolute dimension is the subject of the inquiry. Absolute dimension is contingent upon the candidate’s skill sets. It is true that having technical abilities is a requirement for employment. But in addition to technical skills, modern employers now prioritize HOCS. It is an indisputable fact that engineer’s HOCS play a major role in their Annual Compensation Review (ACR). The study identifies 14 distinct HOCS that engineers need. Since not all skills are equally valuable at every point of a career, they are grouped according to career stage.

College of Technology (COT) graduates, employability, trends, challenges and opportunities for future curricular reforms

College of Technology (COT) graduates, employability, trends, challenges and opportunities for future curricular reforms

The Role of the National Service Scheme in Fostering Social Skills Among Engineering Graduates

Abstract : This study embarks on a captivating journey into the realm of National Service Scheme (NSS) engagement, delving deep into its impact on the multifaceted landscape of social skills development among engineering graduates. With data meticulously collected from engineering graduates, who graduated from NMAM Institute of Technology between the years 2021 and 2023, we employ rigorous statistical analysis, guided by SmartPLS 4.0, to unveil the intricate connections between NSS engagement outcomes, vital mediating variables, and the ultimate manifestation of these synergies in the form of overall social development. Through a panorama of hypotheses testing, mediation analysis, and meticulous exploration, our findings offer compelling insights into the transformative potential of NSS engagement. These revelations extend a resonating call to educators, employers, and policymakers to collaboratively nurture an empowered generation poised to flourish within a socially interconnected world. Keywords: NSS; Social Skills; Engineering; Graduates; Community Service.

Reasons and root causes: Conventional characterizations of doctoral engineering attrition obscure underlying structural issues

AbstractBackgroundAlthough most engineering graduate students are funded and usually complete their degrees faster than other disciplines, attrition remains a problem in engineering. Existing research has explored the psychological and sociological factors contributing to attrition but not the structural factors impacting attrition.Purpose/HypothesisUsing systems theory, this study seeks to understand nuance in how underlying structural causes affect engineering graduate students' attrition experiences in ways that may differ from their official reasons for departure.Design/MethodsData were collected through semi‐structured interviews with seven departing or already departed engineering doctoral students from R1 graduate programs across the United States. Using thematic analysis, root cause analyses were conducted to understand participants' attrition experiences to explore how structures influence causes of departure.ResultsThe ways participants discuss root causes of their departure indicate differences in formal reasons for departure and underlying causes of departure. We highlight the role of informal and formal policy as root causes of a different attrition rationale often passed off as interpersonal issues. When interpreted as evidence of structural issues, the causes of departure show ways in which action–inaction, policy–“null” policy serve as structural features governing student attrition decision processes. We also highlight a form of benign neglect toward struggling graduate students.ConclusionThis study reveals important nuances underlying face‐value reasons of attrition indicating foundational structural issues contributing to engineering graduate student attrition. Coaching faculty in team management and encouraging close revision of departmental policies could help mitigate students' negative graduate experiences and decrease unnecessary attrition.

Internship and Coaching of Fresh Female Engineers in Development Programmes of Nepal: Promoting Gender Inclusion for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is providing Technical Assistance (TA) to the Government of Nepal through the Department of Local Infrastructure (DoLI) under the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, later restructured into the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration that is responsible for local development in Nepal, in the implementation of Rural Roads, Trail (foot) Bridge, and Motorable Bridge programmes. The DoLI has now been readjusted within the Federal Ministry of Urban Development recently, which is responsible for providing technical support and grants to implement infrastructure programmes for local and provincial governments. While the SDC tries to promote workforce diversity in the programmes, it struggled to bring female engineers into its infrastructure sector technical programmes in early 2009. Only a handful of female engineers were involved in the programmes. Therefore, the internship programme targeted at female engineers was started to train young fresh female civil engineering graduates to work in the rural roads programme initially in 2009. With its success, it continued in the trail and motorable bridge programmes from 2011 onwards to date. So far, over a hundred female civil engineering graduates have been trained in Nepal and are working in different organizations within the country and abroad, the government systems, and the private sector. They contribute their skills and knowledge in project design, implementation, management, and supervision.

Creating Opportunities Together (COT): The Career Journey of the College of Technology Graduates of 2020 (A Tracer Study)

Creating Opportunities Together (COT): The Career Journey of the College of Technology Graduates of 2020 (A Tracer Study)

Bridge to Professional Practice: Evaluating Internship Effectiveness and Coordination for Civil and Hydropower Engineering Graduates, A Study of Mid-West University of Nepal using ANN

The transition from academia to professional engineering practice is a pivotal and formidable challenge for graduating engineers. This research explores the effectiveness of internship programs for final semester undergraduates’ students in Civil and Hydropower Engineering of Mid-West University, based on data collected from 77 intern students by evaluating the acquired knowledge and skills during internships, while also exploring the associated benefits and the level of co-ordination between university and the internship organizations. Questionnaires assessed self-evaluated knowledge and skills gained, perceived benefits of the internship, co-ordination by the university and the department, and challenges encountered. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics and an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model to identify factors influencing internship effectiveness. Results indicated that the effective coordination between universities and industry significantly enhances internship outcomes, impacting students’ practical skill development. The study underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in fostering industry-relevant competencies among future construction engineers. These findings suggest practical implications for universities in refining internship initiatives, improving curricula, and establishing robust internship guidelines to better prepare students for professional careers in engineering disciplines.

Why do parental education effects on wages differ by study fields? An analysis of bachelor- and master graduates in Austria

ABSTRACT From an equity perspective, it is important that higher education graduates have the same labour market opportunities after graduation regardless of their social background. However, empirical evidence on the direct effect of parental education on labour market outcomes is mixed, with heterogeneous effects across fields of study. A common finding is that social origin is more relevant for labour market success for graduates in business, law, and the arts than for graduates in engineering, IT, or medicine. Analysis of comprehensive Austrian administrative data show disadvantages for first-generation graduates compared to graduates with tertiary educated parents in some fields (e.g. law), but advantages in others (e.g. engineering). Multilevel models show that the composition of study fields in terms of first-generation graduates plays a crucial role in explaining these differences. Other factors such as the distinction between ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ disciplines or the proportion of graduates working in more bureaucratic institutions play no or a lesser role.

Understanding how socio-historical contexts inform approaches to improving racial climate in stem graduate education within the United States

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine how two socio-historical contexts within the United States, the Movement for Black Lives and the COVID-19 pandemic, informed approaches to improving racial climate in science, technology, mathematics and engineering (STEM) graduate education. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a general qualitative inquiry research study design to conduct focus groups (n = 121) with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty members from across STEM disciplines as well as administrators whose work involves STEM graduate students. Participants were from two US institutions involved in a National Science Foundation networked improvement community seeking to create inclusive environments for STEM graduate students. Findings This study demonstrates how these socio-historical contexts illuminated and amplified on-going efforts to address racial climate for graduate students in US-based graduate education. In response to these events, STEM faculty devoted time that otherwise might have gone to purely technical or scientific endeavors to addressing racial climate. However, some faculty members remain hesitant to address racial climate and efforts appear to have further waned over time. While diversity, inclusion and equity efforts came to the forefront of the collective consciousness during this time, participants worry that these efforts are not sustainable, particularly without support from faculty and administrators. Practical implications The findings from this study will inform efforts to improve racial climate in STEM graduate programs. Originality/value This study fills an identified need to capture how socio-historical contexts, like the US Movement for Black Lives and the COVID-19 pandemic, have influenced approaches to improving racial climate in STEM graduate programs.

How engineering and technology sectors are derailed by legislations: A case study of pakistan

The engineering profession play a vital role in the socio-economic development of societies and contribute to the GDP of countries. This role, however, can be derailed by legislations that regulate such profession. This paper investigates the impacts of legislations on engineering profession in developing countries. The case of Pakistan where engineering profession is regulated by the Pakistan Engineering Council Act has been considered. A qualitative research approach in which 66 documents related to legislations, law cases, international standards, and practices, qualification frameworks have been reviewed to assess the impact of legislation on technology education and employment. Six semi-structured interviews were conducted with government officials to get their stance on the subject matter. The finding suggests that the absolute purpose of this legislation was to regulate the engineering profession, however, wrong interpretation of this regulation has barred qualified technology graduates from the practice of engineering within the country. The faulty regulations are required to be revisited enabling graduates to contribute to the development of Pakistan.

FLIGBY for graduates' employability enhancement in Computer Engineering

AbstractSerious games can play a crucial role in developing competencies for the job market, offering an innovative and engaging approach to learning. This study uses FLIGBY to develop employability skills among computer engineering graduates. FLIGBY is a serious game that simulates a virtual company environment where players make strategic decisions, emphasizing the principles of flow and positive psychology. Immersion in realistic scenarios provides practical experience, contributing to the development of market‐ready skills. A quantitative methodology based on descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing was adopted to measure the development of competencies for the job market using the Systems Engineering Competency Framework. The results show that competence development occurs mainly in the professional and managerial dimensions. In contrast, there is no development of core and technical competencies. Furthermore, the perception of the development of these competencies occurs mainly for students with more years of professional experience. The experiential nature of FLIGBY allows users to develop practical knowledge, promoting adaptability and resilience. This gamified approach accelerates the learning curve, preparing individuals for real‐world challenges in the computer engineering workplace.

Layouts and tips for a typical final-year chemical engineering graduation project

Abstract A fundamental step in the education and scientific research processes is the final-year project for undergraduate students. In chemical engineering departments, the final year project has unique properties since it deals with the design and production of specific materials or chemicals. It represents a whole plant design. In the present work, a layout and tips are proposed for a typical final-year chemical engineering graduation project. Six chapters are suggested. Each chapter is given a main theme and subtitles in order to facilitate the writing process of the project. Chapter one represents an introduction to the importance of the material that was produced, material properties, production process, etc. In chapter two, material and energy balance calculations are addressed. Chapter three handled the equipment design. Cost and environmental assessments are discussed in Chapter four. The results of chapters two and three are compared with software outcomes, which can be collected in chapter five. Finally, the main results, conclusion, and recommendations for future work are proposed to be in Chapter six. Furthermore, tips and advice are addressed to assist students in the writing of a typical graduation project.

A Case Study on the Operational Performance Evaluation of a Manufacturing Process and System (MaPS) Sustainability Analysis Tool for Engineering Education

As the future product and process design decision-makers, students in engineering should have knowledge of sustainability and its application in industry. However, educators are challenged in training students in these concepts. Existing analysis tools are deficient in supporting sustainability assessment by nonexperts. To address this gap, the Manufacturing Process and System (MaPS) Sustainability Analysis tool was developed under the Constructionism in Learning: Sustainable Life Cycle Engineering (CooL:SLiCE) project. The technical aspects of developing a framework and its associated proof-of-concept MaPS Sustainability Analysis tool are reported in a separate study. Herein, the educational aspects of the MaPS Sustainability Analysis tool and its operational performance in terms of ease of use and usefulness to assess its suitability for the classroom are investigated. Undergraduate and graduate engineering students at Tampere University and Oregon State University were recruited to use and evaluate the tool. Through application of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), it was determined that the 24 study participants found the tool easy to use and useful in analyzing product design, manufacturing process, and supply chain sustainability performance. To move this proof of concept toward general use, key software operational characteristics and a GUI should be investigated to improve efficiency, effectiveness, satisfaction, and learnability of the MaPS Sustainability Analysis tool.

Undergraduates’ process safety knowledge development with virtual reality game

ABSTRACT Despite the movement to improve process safety, incidents in chemical-related industries are still occurring around the world. Personnel process safety lack of knowledge is a typical cause of these events. Process safety is an integral part of a chemical engineer’s work. Employees’ discontent with chemical engineering graduates’ process safety understanding revealed deficiencies in undergraduate courses. Inadequate accident investigation and prevention training has also hampered graduates’ knowledge and preparation for high-risk jobs. To address the gaps, an online game platform was suggested and tested with 450 undergraduate students at different levels and disciplines. Virtual reality process safety game proven to improve chemical engineering graduates’ process safety competency while delivering industry experience. The approach is also believed to improve students’ problem-solving and decision-making skills and motivate engagement to study process safety. The main features of the game are desired to be online web-based with serious role-play integrated into real-life simulation activities.

Importancia de la ingeniería química en la alianza Academia-Industria-Gobierno-Sociedad (aigs) en la región Caribe colombiana

Chemical engineering is crucial in socie-ty and can contribute to the collaboration between Academy, Industry, Government, and Society (AIGS) to promote sustainable projects and knowledge transfer in the Ca-ribbean region of Colombia. This study exa-mines the impact of chemical engineering in the region, including program offerings, in-dicators of chemical engineering programs, job market, and opportunities for projects with societal impact. Four public and pri-vate institutions have been identified, each offering comprehensive 10-semester study programs designed to cultivate both tech-nical expertise and humanistic education in aspiring chemical engineers. These pro-grams aim to equip students with the neces-sary tools to tackle the pressing challenges of sustainability. The curriculum is structured into distinct components: foundation (34 %), engineering basics (17 %), professional (39 %), and humanities (11 %). However, dispari-ties in student enrollment numbers between public and private institutions have emer-ged, posing a potential risk to the sustaina-bility of programs in the latter. The chemical industry is prominent, with diversification in Atlántico and a focus on the petrochemi-cal sector in Bolívar. Graduates of chemical engineering in the Caribbean region have di-verse career opportunities with employabi-lity ranges between 50 % and 80 %. Besides, Clusters and CUEEs are important initiatives that guide collaboration within the AIGSalliance, utilizing methodologies for strate-gic management and participatory projects to receive state funding for developments through Science, Technology, and Innova-tion. This study’s results demonstrate that the practice of chemical engineering in the Caribbean region is harmonized with the re-gion’s strategic goals, cultivating socio-eco-nomic benefits through collaborations between companies and universities. Fur-thermore, these findings offer direction to higher education institutions, particularly private ones, encouraging proactive efforts to secure resources for projects. These ini-tiatives, in turn, create avenues to expand educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged students.

First person – Hung-Ju Chiang

ABSTRACT First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Hung-Ju Chiang is first author on ‘ Male germ cell-associated kinase is required for axoneme formation during ciliogenesis in zebrafish photoreceptors’, published in DMM. Hung-Ju is a Junior Research Fellow in the lab of Ichiro Masai at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan, investigating the importance of cilia, a largely underappreciated organelle.

Aligning HR Innovation with Industry Strategies: Enhancing Technical Graduate Employability through Industry-Institute Engagement Practices

This study aims to investigate the strategic approaches utilized by industries to enhance the employability of graduates through industry-institute engagement practices, seeking to understand the effectivenessof these strategies in addressing the increasing demand for skilled technical graduates with high competitiveness and employability skills. Employing a cross-sectional research design, the study was conducted in the Peenya Industrial area from December 2022 to March 2023, focusing on its high concentration of engineering industries. A quantitative approach was used to survey 120 executives from Peenya involved in recruiting engineering graduates, utilizing a structured questionnaire to assess strategies like placement cell activities, social media use, and entrepreneurial training. Data analysis involved descriptivestatistics and ANOVA.Results indicates that placement cell activities are the most employed strategy (63.3%), followed by socialmedia (21.7%) and college databases (11.7%), with entrepreneurial training and Centers of Excellencebeing less utilized. While age did not significantly affect perceptions, firm size did, particularly regardingentrepreneurial training effectiveness. The study highlights the increasing demand for skilled technicalgraduates and the challenges in ensuring their readiness for employment, emphasizing the predominantuse of placement cell activities, social media, and college databases in recruiting engineering graduates.It underscores the need for aligning HR innovation with industry strategies and collaborative efforts toenhance technical graduate employability

Overview of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Education Landscape

Overview of Biomedical Engineering Graduate Education Landscape

Framing the Research and Engaging the Reader in Graduate Engineering Students’ Abstracts

Abstract Writing an abstract is a challenging assignment for graduate students as it requires condensing all the extensive research into a few sentences, providing sufficient background knowledge, and presenting findings compellingly to the academic community. This study observes how graduate engineering students cope with writing their abstracts for their first published papers, with a specific focus on metadiscourse. The study is based on the learner corpus of 1,746 abstracts (117,535 words) written by non-native English speakers in English and Serbian during their Master’s studies. The research follows Hyland’s taxonomy, focusing on interactive frame markers and interactional engagement markers, together with metadiscursive nouns in order to uncover cross-linguistic patterns and pedagogical implications. The comparison of the absolute and relative frequency with statistical significance and log likelihood between Serbian and English sub-corpora demonstrates that students tend to use frame markers with greater frequency in Serbian abstracts than in English ones. Additionally, engagement markers, and especially directives, are used twice as often as frame markers in both sub-corpora, with a higher prevalence in English abstracts. Following the qualitative and quantitative analyses, the findings offer pedagogical implications related to the range of frame markers and metadiscursive nouns used by students to introduce their research aims and the range of engagement markers used to engage readers in their research and thus claim their credibility in academic writing.

Empowering Women in Biomedical Engineering: A Departmental Pathway to Inclusion and Support

ABSTRACT The underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, including biomedical engineering, remains a persistent challenge and emphasizes the need for initiatives that attract and retain more women in the field. Such initiatives should address this gender imbalance and aim to harness the diverse perspectives and talents of all genders. Women in engineering face unique challenges due to the field’s male-dominated nature. Gender bias, stereotypes, and family-unfriendly expectations can significantly affect women’s experiences, hindering their opportunities for recognition and career advancement. A 2021 survey of the Biomedical Engineering Department and Graduate Group at the University of California Davis revealed that women and marginalized individuals experience a different sense of belonging compared with their white male counterparts, frequently encounter challenges related to implicit bias, microaggressions, and a lack of adequate support, mentorship, and opportunities for professional development. Here, we describe and reflect on the efforts by the Biomedical Engineering Health, Equity, and Wellness Committee to begin to address these challenges. We launched the Women+ in Biomedical Engineering Lunch Series, which provides a platform for women, marginalized individuals, and their allies to come together, connect, and share experiences. The lunch series aims to facilitate open dialogue, mentorship, and support and promote networking opportunities to bridge the gender gap in the field. The initial meetings in the Spring quarter of 2023 focused on key topics such as mentoring, mental health and stress management, and the effect of legislation on women’s professional lives. By providing a safe space for discussion, sharing experiences, and addressing these topics, the lunch series aims to break down barriers and build networks, foster a supportive environment, and empower women to thrive in biomedical engineering.