Engineering Education - Skills & competences for

the (global) labour market

Anette KolmosProfessor, Aalborg University

UNESCO Chair in Problem Based LearningPresident SEFI

400 members from 42 countries

Student organisations

Sustainability in EEGlobal innovation

EUGENEEUropean and Global ENgineering Education

A) Ph. D. STUDIES: Structure and Bologna follow-up in the competitiveness issues

Leading: CESAER/AUTH/KTU Leuven; A. Avdelas, J. Berlamont

B) PROMOTE EE IN EUROPE AS A TRUE RESEARCH FIELDC) IMPROVE transnational MOBILITY of engineering

students, graduates and professionals

EUGENEEUropean and Global ENgineering EducationD) LLL & CONTINUING EDUCATION as a tool to improve

competitiveness and innovation of European engineers

E) INCREASE ATTRACTIVENESS of studies in science and engineering and to EHERA: involve students organisations and promote awareness outside the EU of EE evolution and opportunities;

Leading: CESAER/BEST, H. Kaiser, K. Hawwash, student

Agenda

• Company voices

• International studies

• Global labour market

Technological (e.g., bio-tech, digital systems, computer systems/tools, sustainable technology, interdisciplinarity)

Societal, Global, and Professional (e.g., social, political & economic, diversity, multi-disciplinarity, global markets & contexts, interaction of engineering and public policy)

Attributes of the Engineer of 2020:Strong analytical skillsPractical ingenuityCreativityCommunication competencies (oral, written, and cultural)Business, management, and leadership skillsHigh ethical standards and professionalismAgility, resilience, flexibility

Vision of the contexts for engineering in 2020:

Educating engineers

• Criticism of linear block system

• Arguing for design capabilities and a more problem based and project based system

• Complexity and technological integration

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Sustainability, global innovation and complexity

global or interculturalinnovative competences

Distribution by income level

Graduates in China

Gender and fields of study

Gender and science, mathematics and computing

Gender engineering, manu and const-

Qualification framework

Global innovative competences - learning

‘competence’ means the proven ability to use knowledge, skills and personal, social and/or methodological abilities, in work or study situations and in professional and personal development. In the context of the European Qualifications Framework, competence is described in terms of responsibility and autonomy.

You can not learn this by visit - this is an internalized process – you need to collaborate – you need to experience ….

Research on PBL

LearningMotivation and engagement Self-satisfaction and meaningfulness

Skills/competencesProfessional Skills improvementHigher confidence for work life and project management

skills/process skills

ManagementHigher retention rate/lower drop outCompletion rate is higher

EmployabilityCompanies rank PBL universities higher and as more innovative.Graduates from PBL universities are “faster” for adjustment to company life

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Summing up

• Global competiveness is a huge challenge

• Global innovation and sustainability in EE and in research

• European challenge of attractiveness to EE and lifelong learning

• Change in EE to address these competences• Invitation for coordination of European voices

Anette Kolmos, Aalborg University