Dissertation
Assessing the Preparedness of Mechanical Engineering Graduates for Emerging Technologies
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Assessing the Preparedness of Mechanical Engineering Graduates for Emerging TechnologiesThe interview responses highlight a significant gap between the curriculum of technical universities and the practical application of skills within the industry. One interviewee (IE1) noted, "There is a notable disparity between the curriculum of technical universities and the practical application of skills within the industry, leading to a deficiency in digital competencies among graduates of mechanical engineering programs" (EI1, 2023). This finding is consistent with previous research that has identified a misalignment between academic curricula and industry needs, particularly regarding digital skills (e.g.,Guillén-Gámez & Mayorga-Fernández, 2020; N. Khan et al., 2021). Another interviewee (IE2) emphasized the fundamental differences between training programs and university curricula, stating, "Graduates of the technical universities are significantly behind in their proficiency with essential digital tools and equipment utilized in the industry" (EI2,2023). This observation underscores the need for universities to update their curricula to better reflect the evolving demands of the engineering field (e.g., (Cuong & Shim, 2022; Vishnu et al., 2022). To address this issue, the interviewees reported that their respective industries provide training programs to help graduates with strong theoretical knowledge gain the practical skills necessary for the workplace. IE3 said, "We offer training programs aimed at assisting graduates in acquiring the practical skills necessary for the workplace." This practice aligns with literature that highlights the importance of industry-academia collaboration to better prepare graduates for the demands of the workforce (e.g.Sree & Ramlal, 2021; Whisenant et al., 2019). Thus, the shared perspective among interviewees indicates a need for greater alignment between academic institutions and industry practices in order to better prepare mechanical engineering graduates for the demands of emerging technologies. This finding echo previous research that calls for stronger partnerships between universities and industry to bridge the gap between academic curricula and practical skills required in the workplace (e.g., Mian et al., 2020; Nsanzumuhire & Groot, 2020) Download 2.1 Mb. Share with your friends:
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