CASE STUDY RESEARCH INTO CASE STUDY RESEARCH INTO AUSTRALIAN MECHANICAL AUSTRALIAN MECHANICAL ENGINEER ATTRIBUTESENGINEER ATTRIBUTES

Clive Ferguson

Deakin University

Australia

Johnson Report - 1996Johnson Report - 1996

Stakeholder Review of Engineering Education recommended: – a broader engineering education – development of a number of graduate attributes

1997 Engineers Australia response: graduate attribute (10) outcome focused course accreditation.

= functional analysis development of CBET.

Loosely defined: Engineering school advisory panel industry members to provide greater definition.

Subjective - influenced by own education and experience.

ContextContext

Associated historical and contemporary study:

Ref: Ferguson, C (2006) Defining the Australian Mechanical Engineer European Journal of Engineering Education. Vol.31, No.4, August 2006, pp.471 - 485 Taylor and Francis Ltd. London.

Case Study Based Research Case Study Based Research

Determination of range of attributes,employment profile of Australian

mechanical engineersindustry/roles to base case studies

Analysis of attribute significance for each role

Determination of Attributes (84)Determination of Attributes (84)

IEAust attributes (10) expanded by:1. Breaking attributes down e. g. communication skills

broken down into various forms of written and oral communication

2. Adding attributes more related to mechanical engineering e.g. 3D visioning, dynamic visioning.

3. Including a wide range of attributes from numerous surveys and studies into both engineering graduates and graduates in general.

4. Including the main subject specialisms within mechanical engineering courses (and the various mathematics specialisms)

5. Including personal attributes (e.g. interpersonal skills and time management)

Industry profile data – ‘All Industry profile data – ‘All mechanical engineers’ mechanical engineers’ Based on multiple years of APESMA Professional

Remuneration Survey raw data adjusted for public sector bias.

FOUND: 6 Industries - Consulting, Transport equipment manufacturing, electricity and gas supply, mining and quarrying, construction contract and maintenance, and defence - employ more than 50% of all Australian mechanical engineers.

FOUND: Mechanical engineer manufacturing industry employment dominated by transport equipment - automobile industry.

Industry profile data – graduate Industry profile data – graduate engineersengineersTwo sources

– APESMA/IEAust Graduate Engineer survey (raw data over a number of years)

– Careers Council of Australia Graduate Destination Surveys which publish the public sector separately from the industries they serve. Adjusted using data from the APESMA salary survey.

Industry Employment ProfileIndustry Employment Profile

All Mechanical Engineers Graduate Mechanical Engineers

Industry (APESMA

Salary survey)

Industry (APESMA. Grad. Eng. survey)

(Graduate Careers Council)

Consulting and technical Services

16.2 % Consulting 15.6 % 16.4 %

Transport equipment manufacture

12.6 % Mining 9.7 % 8.5 %

Electricity and gas supply 8.1 % Transport equipment manufacture

9.2 % -

Mining and quarrying 6.7 % Defence - 9.2 %

Construction contract and maintenance

6.3 % Financial insurance property and business

- 8.5 %

Defence 5.6 % Construction 8.1 % 5.9 %

Industrial equipment manufacturing

4.7 % Electricity and gas 6.0 % 2.18 %

Adjusted Comparison with US and Adjusted Comparison with US and UKUK

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Selection of companies or Selection of companies or organisationsorganisations6 industries - companies with greatest

numbers of mechanical engineering respondents to the IEAust/APESMA graduate engineer surveys.

Global attribute significance - all operate internationally, have international partnerships or are part of global organisations.

6 industries - 17 Roles (several 6 industries - 17 Roles (several generic)generic)

Role based attributesStage 1 engineer – a qualified

engineer without the professional experience to become chartered.

Stage 2 engineer – sufficient experience to become chartered.

New graduate ability

The survey instrumentThe survey instrument

Attribute significance - 5 point Likert scales from ‘no use’ to ‘essential’.

Significance versus ability. Graduate ability – 5 point Likert scale from ‘none’ to

‘excellent’ - relative to required level of attribute.

Next sheet: key grouped results (to present an overall perspective).

New Graduate Ability Groups

Average Rating

Stage 1 Engineer Attribute Groups

Average Rating

Stage 2 Engineer Attribute Groups

Ave Rating

1 Mathematics 2.89 Communication 2.92 Management 3.51 2 Personal

Attributes 2.83 Management 2.91 Communication 3.48

3 Communication 2.45 Personal Attributes

2.81 Personal Attributes

3.24

4 Management 2.38 Problem Solving 2.79 Problem Solving 3.23 5 Research

Skills 2.36 Computer Skills 2.77 Design 3.17

6 Information Sources

2.15 Information Sources

2.71 Information Sources

2.97

7 Problem Solving

2.15 Design 2.65 Business Skills 2.83

8 Computer Skills

2.09 Engineering Drawing

2.51 Mechanical Engineering Knowledge Base

2.77

9 Mechanical Engineering Knowledge Base

1.97 Mechanical Engineering Knowledge Base

2.32 Engineering Drawing

2.45

10 Design 1.95 Business Skills 2.25 Research 2.42 11 Business

Skills 1.80 Research 2.16 Computer Skills 2.29

12 Engineering Drawing

1.66 Mathematics 1.78 Mathematics 1.78

Personal skillsPersonal skills

Personal attributes group excluding foreign languages were considered essential for most stage 2 roles (time management, social/interpersonal skills, flexibility, conscientiousness, reliability and the expectation and ability to undertake lifelong learning).

Except for time management, all graduates abilities were considered significant or better.

Management and Management and CommunicationCommunicationPlanning and organisational skills - essential for all

stage 2 engineering roles. Others essential for most stage 2 roles:OH&S (also stage 1)Team skills (also for stage 1)Leadership Project managementEthics

Graduate abilities less than moderate were OH&S, project management and political awareness

Problem solving /designProblem solving /design

Recognition & formulation of a problem – essential all stage 2Application of standards and statutory regulations – essential

in virtually all stage 2 but worst rated graduate attribute.

Essential for stage 2 in most roles (those underlined are rated less than moderate for graduate ability):

1. Application of Science and Engineering Fundamentals2. Broad Engineering Knowledge Base3. Recognise when to use engineering analysis4. Documentation5. Ability to sense the design looks sound6. The ability to know when to call in a specialist

Key FindingsKey Findings

Competency focus in secondary and higher education graduate abilities of previous concern such as team skills have improved significantly.

Graduate ability in engineering knowledge base is generally rated moderate or less.

Few roles have every mechanical engineering subject specialism highly rated but attributes requiring a broad engineering knowledge base -highly ranked.

RecommendationRecommendation

Mechanical engineering courses:

1st degree develop a broader engineering knowledge base.

2nd degree develop advanced knowledge in selected specialist topics appropriate to the career role.