Article
Engineering graduates’ skill sets in the MENA region: a gap analysis of industry expectations and satisfaction
European Journal of Engineering Education
(2015)
Abstract
This study explored gaps between industry expectations and perceptions of engineering graduates’ skill sets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study measured the importance that managers of engineers placed on 36 skills relevant to engineers. Also measured was managers’ satisfaction with engineering graduates’ skill sets. Importance and satisfaction were used to calculate skill gaps for each skill. A principal components analysis was then performed, consolidating the 36 skills into 8 categories. The means of importance, satisfaction, and skill gaps were ranked to determine the areas in which graduates needed improvement. Results showed significant gaps between managers’ expectations of and satisfaction with all 36 skills. The areas in which managers felt that graduates needed most improvement were communication, time management, and continuous learning. Managers reported that recent engineering graduates exhibited low overall preparedness for employment. These findings may help to inform curricular reform in engineering education.
Disciplines
Publication Date
February 17, 2015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2015.1012707
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2015 Informa UK Limited
Citation Information
Karim Nasr, Eric Ramadi and Serge Ramadi. "Engineering graduates’ skill sets in the MENA region: a gap analysis of industry expectations and satisfaction" European Journal of Engineering Education Vol. 41 Iss. 1 (2015) p. 34 - 52 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/karim-nasr/3/