In Search of a More Balanced Engineering Curriculum: The Perspective of Students, Teachers, Alumni and Employers
The purpose of this paper is to raise important issues in engineering education in the face of contemporary challenges and demands through the voices of different stakeholders in engineering curricula and in the practice of professional engineering. Several challenges and future perspectives are bas...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Trends in Higher Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-4346/3/1/8 |
| _version_ | 1797240849190354944 |
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| author | Carla Ferreira Bárbara Gabriel Robertt Valente António Andrade-Campos João Dias-de-Oliveira Victor Neto Sandra Soares Teresa Carvalho Cláudia Figueiredo |
| author_facet | Carla Ferreira Bárbara Gabriel Robertt Valente António Andrade-Campos João Dias-de-Oliveira Victor Neto Sandra Soares Teresa Carvalho Cláudia Figueiredo |
| author_sort | Carla Ferreira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The purpose of this paper is to raise important issues in engineering education in the face of contemporary challenges and demands through the voices of different stakeholders in engineering curricula and in the practice of professional engineering. Several challenges and future perspectives are based on important skills, like soft skills, which are required by employers and include communication, decision-making, problem-solving, leadership and emotional intelligence, as well as the ability to work with people of different backgrounds and apply technical knowledge. A qualitative data analysis of interviews with students, alumni, teachers and employers revealed the demand for more balanced qualified curricula for higher education institutions in the field of engineering. This includes the promotion of collaborative learning spaces, authentic learning experiences based on engaging students in real situations, project-based learning, industrial visits, guest lectures and problem-solving methodologies that are perceived by these stakeholders as essential in the construction of a curriculum, in line with the specific technical competences of each area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:13:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d0d8652bf1cc482cab477f8fee72cd58 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2813-4346 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:13:58Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Trends in Higher Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-d0d8652bf1cc482cab477f8fee72cd582024-03-27T13:44:08ZengMDPI AGTrends in Higher Education2813-43462024-02-013114215410.3390/higheredu3010008In Search of a More Balanced Engineering Curriculum: The Perspective of Students, Teachers, Alumni and EmployersCarla Ferreira0Bárbara Gabriel1Robertt Valente2António Andrade-Campos3João Dias-de-Oliveira4Victor Neto5Sandra Soares6Teresa Carvalho7Cláudia Figueiredo8Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, 3810-198 Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences of University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences of University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalThe purpose of this paper is to raise important issues in engineering education in the face of contemporary challenges and demands through the voices of different stakeholders in engineering curricula and in the practice of professional engineering. Several challenges and future perspectives are based on important skills, like soft skills, which are required by employers and include communication, decision-making, problem-solving, leadership and emotional intelligence, as well as the ability to work with people of different backgrounds and apply technical knowledge. A qualitative data analysis of interviews with students, alumni, teachers and employers revealed the demand for more balanced qualified curricula for higher education institutions in the field of engineering. This includes the promotion of collaborative learning spaces, authentic learning experiences based on engaging students in real situations, project-based learning, industrial visits, guest lectures and problem-solving methodologies that are perceived by these stakeholders as essential in the construction of a curriculum, in line with the specific technical competences of each area.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-4346/3/1/8curriculumengineering educationchallenges and demandssoft skills |
| spellingShingle | Carla Ferreira Bárbara Gabriel Robertt Valente António Andrade-Campos João Dias-de-Oliveira Victor Neto Sandra Soares Teresa Carvalho Cláudia Figueiredo In Search of a More Balanced Engineering Curriculum: The Perspective of Students, Teachers, Alumni and Employers Trends in Higher Education curriculum engineering education challenges and demands soft skills |
| title | In Search of a More Balanced Engineering Curriculum: The Perspective of Students, Teachers, Alumni and Employers |
| title_full | In Search of a More Balanced Engineering Curriculum: The Perspective of Students, Teachers, Alumni and Employers |
| title_fullStr | In Search of a More Balanced Engineering Curriculum: The Perspective of Students, Teachers, Alumni and Employers |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Search of a More Balanced Engineering Curriculum: The Perspective of Students, Teachers, Alumni and Employers |
| title_short | In Search of a More Balanced Engineering Curriculum: The Perspective of Students, Teachers, Alumni and Employers |
| title_sort | in search of a more balanced engineering curriculum the perspective of students teachers alumni and employers |
| topic | curriculum engineering education challenges and demands soft skills |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-4346/3/1/8 |
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