1. Impacts of a humanitarian engineering education pathway on student learning and graduate outcomes.
- Author
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Smith, Jeremy, Turner, Jennifer, and Compston, Paul
- Subjects
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ENGINEERING education , *CAREER development , *GRADUATE students , *SUSTAINABLE engineering , *CULTURAL pluralism , *STUDENT engagement - Abstract
This study explores the impact on students from engagement with a humanitarian engineering pathway embedded in the core of an undergraduate engineering degree. The pathway provides multiple engagements with humanitarian engineering including assignment topics, study abroad experiences and service-learning projects. A mixed-methods study over 18 months collected survey data from education initiatives concurrently with interviews with graduates at completion of their studies, to identify outcomes from student engagement. A set of seven outcome themes were identified including additional motivations for study, the development of professional skills, and an enhanced perception of employability. The research demonstrates the contribution of humanitarian engineering to the development of contemporary engineers as well as to support greater diversity and cultural change in engineering. However, challenges were identified particularly for work experience and career opportunities. The research proposes future work evaluating outcomes from multiple universities and graduates further in their careers, to develop a more complete picture of the impacts of humanitarian engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
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