Asean Economic Community 2015: Needs Analysis of Universitas Indonesia’s Engineering Students

Abstract

Prior to the ASEAN Economic Community in the end of 2015, one of the keys for Indonesian engineers to outrank engineers from other ASEAN countries is mastering English language skills. This study aims at analyzing the English needs of undergraduate engineering students at Universitas Indonesia. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used as the data collection methods. The questionnaires were spread to 111 alumni and 150 students from the Faculty of Engineering. The interviews were conducted with HRD from a multinational company, HRD from a local company, three heads of departments, and two lecturers from the Faculty of Engineering. The research reveals that students' needs of English language learning are considered not as high as their needs of English language use. The recommendation given to the Faculty of Engineering is to conduct an optional course on English for Professional Purposes, and the course is to be handled by professional English teachers helped by the lecturers from the Faculty of Engineering.

English Communication Needs of Engineering Students

“…The finding showed that oral communication was strongly needed by the engineering students at UMM. And this is similar to the findings of Zaid and Kamarudin [39], Kakepoto et al [40], Bhattacharyya [8], Araminta and Halimi [5], Lan, Proust, and Lim, [41].…”

“…Also, Aramaninta and Halimi [5], found that the engineering faculty at Universitas Indonesia is enforced to establish English for Professional Purposes handled by both professional English teachers and engineering professionals to meet the needs of engineers in the ASEAN Economic Community. Questionnaires and the interviews were used to collect the data from the alumni, engineering students, the HRD (Human Resources Development) from the local company, head of departments and lecturers.…”

“…Along with an attempt to support the labour movement, the Ministers of Economy of ASEAN countries have expanded the service coverage into several areas like nursing, architecture, medical, accounting, and engineering. And Araminta and Halimi [5] reported that it was first adopted in the field of engineering.…”

The Implementation of English in Higher education in the context of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in an International Accounting Department

“…They have more efforts because of learning in a foreign language and have more strategies to be a success. Araminta and Halimi (2015) discuss the limitation of the English skills of the Indonesian workers working in the multinational company, are grammar and pronunciation.…”

“…However, policies have been taken to implement EMI (Diallo & Liddicoat, 2014). Araminta and Halimi (2015) reported that from the needs analysis carried out at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Indonesia, it was concluded that students need a program which can develop their English skills not to teach them English.…”