Student’s Characteristics as a Basis for Competency Development in Engineering Informatics Education

Abstract

Abstract-Current technological innovations and continuous change in the labor market have generated new challenges for higher education, and thrown new light upon the importance of competency development in engineering education. Responsibility, flexibility, communication and collaborative skills, selfmotivation, problem-solving and innovation are the most required skills by employers. However, individual differences like personality traits or interpersonal skills of students can also be considered relevant factors influencing teachers' attitudes towards integration of effective methods into engineering education. The purpose of this paper is to examine the competencies of undergraduates attending Engineering Informatics education, and to identify their personal needs for development in the light of workplace demands. Personality characteristics of Engineering Informatics students are also addressed in this research in order to reveal possible ways of involving them into the teaching and learning process by implementing new methods or approaches in Engineering Informatics education in Hungary.

The Possibilities of Improving Communication Skills in the Training of Engineering Students

“…We started examining the competences of informatics engineering students with a 24-item competence list that we had compiled on the basis of job advertisements and other higher education competence surveys. On one hand, we surveyed how necessary students thought each competence was necessary for their future profession and on the other hand, to what extent they were in possession of the given competence [27][28][29]. Participants were asked to rate the importance of each competency in future employment using a 5-point Likert scale rating from (1) of minimum importance to (5) of maximum importance, and to self-evaluate their level of proficiency in the same competences at the present moment rating from ( 1) at a minimum level to (5) at a maximum level [11,28,29].…”

“…On one hand, we surveyed how necessary students thought each competence was necessary for their future profession and on the other hand, to what extent they were in possession of the given competence [27][28][29]. Participants were asked to rate the importance of each competency in future employment using a 5-point Likert scale rating from (1) of minimum importance to (5) of maximum importance, and to self-evaluate their level of proficiency in the same competences at the present moment rating from ( 1) at a minimum level to (5) at a maximum level [11,28,29]. We used the list of competences to find out how important students think communication is on the labour market (see Figure 1).…”

Opportunities for the Development of Soft Skills in Engineer Education

“…The Hungarian version of the Big Five Questionnaire (BFQ, Caprara et al, 1993) examined students' personalities (Tordai -Holik, 2018a;2018b). This personality testing tool includes 5 dimensions and 10 subscales, as well as a social desirability scale, which shows how much respondents want to portray themselves in a positive way (Table 1).…”

A Roadmap to the Development of Key Competencies of Engineering and Technology Graduates

“…New teaching methods and approaches are expected into engineering higher education towards competency development of the students. Also, it is essential for the professors to build a new mindset and to develop competencies that enable them to be prepared for teaching the new generation [32]. Professors should understand that they are facing difficult times with new generations that were born surrounded by technology [33].…”

“…There is evidence which indicates the differences between the graduates' skills developed by institutions of higher education, perceived by graduates and expected by employers [32], [34]. The college administration should provide the infrastructural setup, staff professional development, adoption of the encouragement policy, and establish exchange programs, and building good relationships with industries to get feedback and a clear understanding of the employment' requirements, as in table no.…”