The Competencies of Engineering Graduates (CEG) Project will develop a survey instrument to measure the generic competencies of engineering graduates using workplace supervisor ratings. The purpose of the instrument is to advise ongoing improvement of undergraduate engineering programs to maintain and develop their relevance and effectiveness based on the perspectives of graduate engineering employer stakeholders.
To develop the survey instrument it is necessary to identify of the competencies to measure. Brumm, Hanneman and Mickelson (2006) analyzed critical incidents to identify and measure workplace competencies which demonstrate the engineering graduate outcomes required for program accreditation in the U.S.. The CEG Project is original because it is founded on the perspective that a desirable graduate engineer is one who will develop into a successful established engineer. The attributes required of established engineers will be identified. The competencies measured by the final instrument will be those which demonstrate aptitude to develop the attributes required of established engineers.
This ‘snapshot’ will present a survey of established engineers which is part of the CEG Project. The questionnaire includes a task inventory, questions identifying work context, and questions rating the importance of competencies. This approach is original because it will measure both the importance of the ‘generic’ competencies and the nature of engineering work, across industries, disciplines and geographic locations.
Brumm, T. J., Hanneman, L. F., ... Mickelson, S. K. (2006). Assessing and developing program outcomes through workplace competencies. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education, 22(1), 123-129. |
