What is it about?
This study looks at how well recent graduates from engineering programs at universities feel they were prepared for their jobs at research and development (R&D) companies. We created a survey and sent it to 366 graduates who started working at R&D firms after June 1, 2022. We wanted to know if the skills they learned in school matched the skills they need in their jobs. The survey results showed that there was a strong connection between the skills these graduates learned in their programs and the skills they need in their R&D jobs.
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Why is it important?
What makes this work unique and timely is the focus on recent graduates' perspectives on the effectiveness of their university engineering programs in preparing them for R&D jobs. This is particularly important now, as R&D is a rapidly growing sector and companies are increasingly seeking skilled employees. Our study includes a new statistical approach to reduce bias in the survey responses, making the findings more reliable. The difference this work might make is in helping universities improve their engineering programs and better prepare students for careers in R&D, ultimately benefiting both students and employers.
Perspectives
As the co-author of this publication, I am excited to share these insights with both the academic and industry communities. I've always been interested in understanding how well university programs are meeting the needs of the job market, and this study has allowed me to explore that in the context of R&D companies. I hope this research will serve as a conversation starter between universities and R&D companies to discuss ways to enhance the alignment between engineering education and the skills needed in R&D jobs. Ultimately, I believe this can lead to better educational experiences for students and more effective hiring for companies.
Assoc. Prof. Narasimha Rao Vajjhala
University of New York at Tirana
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Analysis of University Engineering Program Skill Effectiveness in Research & Development Companies, March 2023, Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE),
DOI: 10.1109/edunine57531.2023.10102861.
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