Engineering Education Commons^™

Do We Unwittingly Exclude Students? A Case Study To Evaluate An Engineering Test For Inclusivity., Sofie Craps, Mieke Cannaerts, Greet Langie

Research Papers

Engineering stereotypes can hinder different groups to identify with and choose for engineering. The stereotypical image, often characterised as male, white and harsh technical oriented, can negatively impact students’ perception of engineering as a field to which they can belong. Recently, PREFER tests were designed to increase students’ awareness of the different roles an engineer can take on and of the importance of professional competencies in engineering. Research indicated that the tests were gendersensitive, meaning that females had other role preferences than males. These results inspired a follow up project to investigate how the tests can be used as instruments …

Engineering Education Evolution, Janusz Szpytko

Research Papers

Over the years, human needs have been subject to evolution, which translated into economic development and was the result of research, development of knowledge and technology, lifelong learning and the development of skills combined with engineering competences. The paper attempts to analyze the evolution of education with a focus on engineering in the context of the development of technology over the years in conjunction with the significant achievements of technology and engineering craftsmanship. As a result, conclusions were formulated regarding the challenges in the areas of new techniques and engineering solutions that fit into the activities aimed at sustainable development …

A Look Inside The Engineering Students’ Backpack: Differences In Engineering Capital According To Gender Or Migration Background., Mieke Cannaerts, Sofie Craps, Veerle Draulans, Greet Langie

Research Papers

Every student has a unique combination of experiences, resources and social networks related to engineering, called ‘engineering capital’, derived from Archer’s concept of ‘science capital’. The engineering capital gathered throughout life creates a backpack that impacts someone’s aspirations to study engineering, as well as the performance and persistence in the programme itself. Engineering technology is one of the most homogeneous fields within the STEM domain, being mostly white and male. To stimulate a more diverse engineering technology field, this research paper investigates the relationship between the level of engineering capital and gender or migration background, as well as the influence …

Sustainability In Engineering And Engineering Education: A Comparative Study Of German And Saudi Arabian Industries", Talha Bin Asad, Diana Bairaktarova

Research Papers

Sustainability has become a major concern in the fields of engineering and engineering education. Organizations such as UNESCO have defined goals for sustainable development in engineering. As engineers design, develop, and implement products and processes that impact the environment and society, their role in promoting sustainable development is vital. Addressing sustainability in engineering curriculum is needed to equip engineers with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to develop sustainable solutions in their respective areas, and it involves merging the teaching of technical skills with a systems-based approach that considers the broader environmental and economical context of engineering. This 1 Corresponding …

Podcasts As A Learning Method In Engineering Education, Jeanette Engzell, Charlotte Norrman

Research Papers

Multimedia has been integrated in education the last 40 years but podcasts have more recently become popular. Since 2006 podcasts have become increasingly popular in Sweden and nowadays podcasts are used in all types of contexts but are yet to find a place in engineering education. Students do not acquire knowledge or solve problems in the same way. Using a mix of methods in teaching is therefore important if one has the ambition to democratize the learning processes and give students the same opportunity to learn. Traditionally, much of the university education has been based on lectures in classrooms and …

A Community-Based Context Learning Approach To Promoting Social Justice In Teaching Engineering Communication, Hua Wang

Research Papers

The research suggests a community-based context learning approach which engages students with marginalized cultural communities to investigate how technological artifacts, models or systems marginalize these cultural communities and propose for change. The goal of this approach is to increase engineering students’ awareness of that engineering work can marginalize certain groups of people. The approach integrates social change to an engineering communication course and considers student learning and transformation are as important as community problems and solutions. It brings transformative learning outcomes to students, increasing their awareness of the fact that engineering is never neutral, and their engineering profession is associated …

Surveying Post-Leaving Certificate Students To Investigate Their Level Of Mathematical Preparedness For Progression To Higher Education Stem Courses: A Pilot Process, John Mchugh, Michael Carr, Fiona Faulkner

Research Papers

A student’s level of mathematics as they begin degree courses in STEM disciplines has been recognised as a key indicator of their success. While much research has taken place into secondary school mathematics teaching, a comparatively underresearched area has been that of Further Education, which supplies a smaller proportion of degree courses’ student intake. The vast majority of Further Education students seeking progression opportunities to such courses study one of three mathematics modules: ‘Mathematics 5N1833’, ‘Maths for IT 5N18396’, or ‘Maths for STEM 5N0556’.

As part of the author’s PhD research project on the mathematical preparedness of students at FE …

Transnational Collaboration On Lifelong Learning Between Higher Engineering Education Institutions: A University Perspective, Jens Bennedsen, Geir Egil Dahle Øien

Research Papers

Lifelong learning (LLL) is in focus in all European countries. Workforce upskilling and reskilling are seen as central elements in ensuring national competitiveness. Universities are main players in this effort but often find it difficult to find sustainable models for LLL activities, in terms of e.g., economy, student intake, and academic resources. Collaboration between universities can be one possible way forward to overcome such obstacles, and given the enhanced post-Covid digitalization is also increasingly made possible, even across borders. However, many universities also find such collaboration challenging, e.g., due to outdated legislation, lacking financial predictability, lacking

1 J. Bennedsen [email protected] …

Staff Experiences Of Leading Large-Scale Multi-Departmental Project-Based Learning For Year 1 Engineering Students, Fiona Truscott, Emanuela Tilley, John Mitchell, Abel Nyamapfene

Research Papers

There is increasing consensus that Engineering programmes need to include space for skills learning, particularly in interdisciplinary contexts. Active learning methods, such as project-based learning, are the gold standard for teaching interdisciplinary skills. However much of the literature on these approaches focuses on relatively small class sizes, making the application in larger contexts seem unfeasible. The Integrated Engineering Programme (IEP) at University College London (UCL), is one of the most comprehensive and largest applications of active learning methodologies within undergraduate engineering curricula in the UK. A key part is the cornerstone module, Engineering Challenges. This first-year undergraduate module aims to …

Rethinking Evolution Of Active Learning In The Hybrid/Online Engineering Education In The Post-Covid-19 Era: A Quantitative Keyword Co-Occurrence Analysis, Yiwen Xu, Thitiwat Piyatamrong, Abel Nyamapfene

Research Papers

In response to COVID-19, education witnessed a rapid shift to online and virtual platforms. Our previous research has raised questions about the efficacy of these methods for hands-on practice and active learning experiences - crucial elements of engineering education. Emergent solutions like online laboratories and virtual field trips have led to the rise of a hybrid learning era in the post-pandemic context. This change necessitates a reassessment of active learning in hybrid/online engineering education. In this study, we examine recent literature on online and virtual education during and post-COVID-19 to redefine and reevaluate strategies for engaging students actively. We propose …

Reflective Practice In Stem Degrees To Support Adaptability And Lifelong Learning, Gareth Thomson, Klara Kovesi

Workshops

The benefits and importance of reflective learning is widely recognized for the development of STEM students. However, the implementation of reflective practices in the curriculum remains a significant challenge for educators. The main purpose of this paper is to help educators overcome this challenge: to better support students to develop their approaches to reflective learning, to better develop ownership of their own learning processes and to foster skills to support lifelong learning. First, we describe the results of a recent survey among engineering academics to look at the issue of reflective learning and the extent to which it is deployed …

Questioning Implicit Assumptions – Proactively Fostering Inclusion In Engineering Activity Design, Ashlee Pearson, Jessica Deters

Workshops

Within discussions of inclusion work in engineering education, calls have been made to shift to a shared responsibility model where all are responsible for proactively fostering inclusive environments. In an academic setting, it is through pro-active design of learning activities that academics can pre-emptively meet the needs of diverse students such that they may feel included. This design work often relies on academics being educated or aware of what is inclusive or exclusive for different groups that have traditionally underrepresented identities and lived experiences. However, academics do not always possess this information. This workshop proposes an approach that asks academics …

Enhancing Retention And Transfer Of Mathematics In Engineering Education, Annoesjka J. Cabo, Renate Gerarda Klaassen

Workshops

This article is a reflection of a SEFI workshop on Retention. In the workshop, a SWOT Analysis has been realised of four pedagogical solutions addressing Retention in undergraduate STEM education. The pedagogical solutions are programmatic assessment, micro-credentials for online mathematics (support) learning modules, autonomous and self-regulated learning and mathematical competencies for learning. Results have provided insights into the relevance and feasibility of implementation.

Engineering Education Research: Writing For Publication, Rebecca Broadbent, Scott Daniel, Kristina Edström, Jonte Bernhard, Shannon Chance, John Mitchell, Maartje Van Den Bogaard, Fiona Saunders, Una Beagon, Joyce Main, David Knight

Workshops

In this interactive workshop, facilitated by a team of editors from the European Journal of Engineering Education (EJEE), the Journal of Engineering Education (JEE), and IEEE Transactions on Education, participants had the opportunity to network with other scholars in the field, and learn about the journal publication process and how best to navigate it.

It served as an informal opportunity for scholars at all stages of their publication journey to share their experiences, both positive and negative, directly with each other and journal editors. Participants co-created a document of shared insights about writing for publication, the key outcomes of which …

Promoting Awareness Of, And Sharing Good Practices On, Supporting Engineering Students With Disabilities, Natalie Wint, Gillian Saunders-Smits, Roger Penlington

Workshops

No abstract provided.

Practical Toolkit For Embedding Ethics In The Engineering Curriculum, Sarah Jayne Hitt, Stella Fowler, Sarah Junaid, Johnny Rich

Workshops

The need to embed ethics into the engineering curriculum is a collective imperative if we are to successfully navigate complexity, uncertainty and challenging ethical issues to build a sustainable society that works for everyone. To maximise positive impact, behaviours such as inclusivity and sustainability must become instinctive – golden threads running through everything that engineers think and do. Proactively, bringing engineering ethics to the fore in engineering programmes is one way UK higher education equips future engineers with the skills and mindset they need to succeed.

This workshop brings together best practice from expert practitioners across the UK, introducing a …

Supporting Students From Different Universities And Backgrounds To Improve Their Academic And Social Outcomes: Euniwell Masoee Project Workshop, Neil Cooke, Jörgen Forss, Enrica Caporali, Pascal Chargé, Kamel Hawwash, Jesper Andersson, Gianni Bartoli, Sarah Chung, Daniel Cottle

Workshops

There is a notable discrepancy between the relative prosperity of Europeans and the global security and sustainability challenge. The mission of the ERASMUS+ 2020 European University for Well-Being (EUniWell) alliance is to address this. Our project, “Maximizing Academic and Social Outcomes in Engineering Education” (MASOEE) interprets this contradiction for engineering educators, exploring how to ensure graduates make the utmost contribution to societal wellbeing by narrowing attainment gaps. We are combining the expertise of British, French, Italian, and Swedish faculties to identify, share, and ultimately transfer best practices for professional, business, and sustainability skill teaching that is aligned to the EU …

Techniques In Teaching Engineering Ethics And Professional Responsibility, Nael Barakat, Tom Børsen, Cecile Hardebolle, Helena Kovacs, Diana Martin, Heli Väätäjä

Workshops

No abstract provided.

Engineering Students Reflect On Work-Life Relevant Learning, Camilla Björn, Kristina Edström, Viggo Kann

Research Papers

As engineering education is a professional education, it should prepare students for working life. However, there are obvious limitations to the amount of content that is possible to cover and the authenticity of the learning environments. In this study, we investigate the students’ awareness and perception of these limitations by answering the following two research questions: What competencies do the students view as work-life relevant? How do students reflect on their opportunities to learn these competencies? The context of the study is the five-year Master of Science in Engineering and Computer Science at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Throughout the …

Rethinking The Nature Of Experimental Learning: Moving Beyond Conventional Laboratory Experiences, David Lowe

Research Papers

Laboratory experimentation is an important educational tool across many disciplines, providing a mechanism for students to enhance their understanding of the relationships between theoretical models and physical reality. However, whilst laboratories are used extensively, the existing approaches to experimental learning have evolved little in the last 100 years, the intended learning outcomes are often poorly articulated and the connection between the learning outcomes and the student experiences is unclear. These limitations hasve meant that the development of laboratory experiences has tended to be driven by a combination of history, the capability of physical laboratory environments, and technological opportunity (e.g. the …

Effect Of Engineering Education On Students’ Ethical Attitudes, Ulla-Talvikki Anniina Virta, Hannu-Matti Järvinen

Research Papers

Integrating teaching about ethics in engineering degree has challenges: Teachers focused on the degree core topics may lack the expertise to handle the ethics, and teachers with an ethics background may struggle to connect the ethics teaching to the field-specific issues. In addition, a portion of the students themselves may consider the non-core topic to be unnecessary or demotivating, which poses further challenges for the teaching. In the paper, we explore the ethical attitudes of students based on a survey conducted on information technology, electrical engineering and computer sciences students at our university.

The survey received 224 responses. We compare …

Descriptions Of Peer Mentors As Told By Undergraduate Engineering Student Mentees, Darcie Christensen, Idalis Villanueva Alarcón

Research Papers

Peer mentorship is a relationship between two people who are at a similar level. In this study, the setting is academic, namely peer mentorship amongst undergraduate engineering students. Within peer mentorship, participants aim to help one another through various activities, such as sharing information, helping motivate, providing advice, lending support, etc. The outcomes of peer mentorship are generally positive and mutually beneficial for mentors and mentees, but the focus of peer mentoring research in undergraduate engineering has primarily been focused on implementing and evaluating formalized peer mentoring efforts, not necessarily on the needs of students who may be in these …

Emotional Labor Experienced In Team-Projects: A Comparison Of Engineering And Hospitality Students, Nihat Kotluk, Roland Tormey, Rachel Germanier, Annick Darioly

Research Papers

Team projects are an integral part of the student learning experience. However, emotions can significantly affect student performance during team projects. Students use different emotion regulation strategies, such as surface-acting (emotive dissonance) and deep-acting, to regulate their emotions during team projects. These strategies can result in different ‘emotional labor’ levels, leading to emotional exhaustion, dissonance, and burnout. The level of emotional labor may also vary depending on the discipline and the nature of the work. This study thus investigated if engineering and hospitality students have different levels of emotional labor in team projects. Data were collected using a modified Emotional …

Ai For Leadership: Implementation And Evaluation Of An Ai Education Program, Aikaterini Bagiati, Andrés F. Salazar-Gómez, Annalyn Bachmann, Kathleen D. Kennedy, Cynthia Breazeal

Research Papers

AI education is rapidly becoming the next frontier when it comes to solving the world's grand challenges; however, ways to introduce AI to large complex organisations are still vastly understudied. To address this gap in 2021, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) entered into a collaboration with the US Air Force (USAF). The goal of this relationship is to develop, study, and evaluate different learning modalities and online/in-person experiences to introduce AI to the diverse USAF workforce. The USAF is a very complex organisation and its employees vary in terms of educational and cultural backgrounds, as well as in their work-related …

Experiences And Career Choices Of Female Engineering Undergraduates In China, Zeyi Liu, Inês Direito, Yuwei Xu

Research Papers

It is a global issue that the ‘pipeline’ leading to STEM occupations begins to ‘leak’ after graduation from STEM subjects, and the leakage tends to be much more severer for women. This study adds to current discussions on the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, emphasizing the roles of gender and family engineering social capital in the career choices of female engineering students in China. The study follows an explanatory mixed-methods research design including a survey and interviews. The survey was completed by 508 Chinese engineering undergraduates at Chinese universities and created a quantitative descriptive landscape that situates the qualitative …

European And National Strategies Supporting The Implementation And Development Of Continuing Engineering Education At Scandinavian Universities, Ida Marie Lybecker Korning, Bente Nørgaard

Research Papers

Lifelong learning (LLL) and continuing engineering education (CEE) have been on the European Union’s agenda for almost three decades, formally initiated by the European Year of Lifelong Learning in 1996 and reinforced with several initiatives targeted at LLL since then. The current initiative, the European Year of Skills 2023, aims to promote a mindset of reskilling and upskilling. Nonetheless, before 1996, some universities were already developing diverse CEE activities and collaborating with external stakeholders such as the local industry. Many of these activities, however, have been initiated by passionate university staff or based on personal relationships within the organization. CEE …

Searching For Young Talent: Understanding Industrial Recruitment Practices For Hiring Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Students, Klara Kövesi, Christiane Gillet, Nathalie Krien

Research Papers

This study aims to investigate industrial companies’ recruitment practices and standards for hiring their engineering degree apprentices. We examine (1) how they find their future engineering degree apprentices, (2) their recruitment standards and (3) to what extent organisational characteristics shape their recruitment decisions. To answer these questions we have carried out an online quantitative study, comprising exclusively closed questions, with the participation of workplace mentors of engineering apprenticeship students (n=70). Subsequently, we have conducted a descriptive statistical data analyse on SPSS. Our results indicate that industrial companies find their engineering apprentices by means of students’ speculative applications or via engineering …

Varieties Of Project-Task Design In Interdisciplinary Engineering Education, Miles Macleod, Coralie Johnson, Jan Van Der Veen

Research Papers

Experience in interdisciplinary problem-solving is considered crucial if engineers are to be equipped to handle modern complex environmental and sustainability challenges. Such challenges cross disciplinary boundaries. Project-based learning is currently a central paradigm for providing that experience. Teams from different disciplines are formed to work together on a specific scientific or engineering projecttask (often a real-world inspired problem). Furthermore according to the paradigm projects should be open-structured to allow students to experience interdisciplinary problem-solving as it might occur in the real world. In this study we explore preliminary results of data collected on 5 project-based modules at a Dutch technical …

First-Generation Engineering Students' Identity Development: Early Forays Into The Workplace, Renee Smit

Research Papers

In the context of global shortages of engineering professionals, research into factors that impact on training and retention of qualified engineers is important – this includes first-generation engineering students, a largely under-researched group of students. Research has shown that an elaborated, well-developed engineering identity is important for the retention of both engineering students at university, and for engineers in practice. Professional identities are fluid, emerging and develop over the lifetime of the professional. However, we still know little about the nature of a professional engineering identity, and how it develops.

Drawing on insights from the philosophy of science, I make …

Effects Of Gaze Distribution On Woodworking Knowledge And Skills, Takashi Usuzaka, Yujin Mochizuki, Hiroaki Shoji

Research Papers

This study investigates the gaze distribution of learners who watched a video about making a screw joint (a woodworking process) and explores its relationship with knowledge comprehension and skill acquisition levels. Twenty university students who had never taken a specialized class on screw joints participated in the study. They watched approximately a three-minute video on making a screw joint and completed knowledge comprehension and skill acquisition surveys based on the video content. Gaze measurements were conducted using Tobii T120, a screenbased eye-tracking device manufactured by Tobii Technology. In the line-of-sight distribution analysis, the objects appearing in the video were categorized …