"roles" in the bachelor's and master's programmes in engineering technology: Definitions and corresponding learning outcomes

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the different professional roles for engineers and the corresponding learning outcomes. Interviews with HR-managers of companies working with engineers resulted in the identification of three main roles, namely: operational excellence (an engineer that organises and optimises processes), product leadership (an engineer that develops new products/technologies) and customer intimacy (an engineer that provides solutions according to the needs of the customer). A survey with company representatives showed that for an operational excellence engineer, problem analysing and solving skills are considered the most essential skills. For an engineer in product leadership, the design and development skills are found significantly more important. At last, for customer intimacy it was less clear. However, professionalism, communication, entrepreneurship and ethic responsibility were found to be more important for a customer intimacy engineer than for a product leadership engineer. Basic scientific knowledge was found to be of lower importance for a customer intimacy engineer. It is important keep in mind that this story is not as black and white as may be concluded from this study. Often, engineers do not function in one specific 'role' during their professional life: They combine roles within one function or they change roles in the course of their career. This research was a first step in the exploration of roles for engineers and the implementation of these roles in the study programme. To increase our further understanding of the results, our next step is to research the disciplinary future self-images of the students in context of the different professional roles. In the near future we will study how we can include these results in the engineering programmes. It is our goal to face all students, even so the freshmen, with this reality. It is important that we make them aware of their gifts and how these gifts can be developed to become an engineer fitting perfectly with their ideal future self. A well-informed view of the future professional roles could help students in directing their individual development of competences.status: publishe