Conference paper 2020

INTEGRATED CURRICULUM APPROACH IN DEVELOPING 21ST CENTURY INDUSTRY-READY GRADUATES

Proceedings of the International CDIO Conference
Conference · Vol. 2 · pp. 239-249
Abstract

The experiences in designing an integrated curriculum for the Bachelor in Civil Engineering Technology (BCT) programme is presented in this paper. The programme currently being offered in Politeknik Ungku Omar is adapting the innovative engineering education framework of Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO) real-world systems with the objective to produce a new generation of engineering technologists. Precisely, the curriculum was designed using CDIO Standard 3 - Integrated Curriculum and CDIO Standard 7 - Integrated Learning Experiences focusing on providing integrated learning experiences for students to take an active role in their learning process. The 40-week structured on-the-job training or Work-based Learning (WBL) with partnership from the nation's key-industry players and construction companies were discussed. The industry collaboration and partnership aim to provide a real-life work environment and facilitate structured and experiential learning for Year 4 students before graduation and eventually join the workforce. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the efficacy of the integrated curriculum measured through feedback received from the industry partners on students' performance in the WBL and the graduate employment rate. Graduate employment has significantly improved and BCT graduates are well accepted by the industries. The graduate has been recognized to be more industry-ready and confident in facing challenges in the construction industry. However, the interaction with recent graduates and industry partners indicates that there are still gaps in BCT graduates' skill sets and actions to address these gaps are discussed. © 2020 CDIO. All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Author Keywords

work-based learning Integrated curriculum Standards 3, 7

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Politeknik Ungku Omar, Jalan Raja Musa Mahadi, Malaysia
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 9 References
1 Teaching for Quality Learning at University, (1999)
2 Work Based Learning A New Higher Education, (2001)
3 Team Teaching What Why and how, (2000)
4 Crawley, Edward F., Rethinking engineering education: The CDIO approach, Rethinking Engineering Education: The CDIO Approach, pp. 1-286, (2007)
5 Crawley, Edward F., Rethinking engineering education: The CDIO approach, second edition, Rethinking Engineering Education: The CDIO Approach, Second Edition, pp. 1-311, (2014)
6 E Learning in Malaysian Higher Education Institutions Status Trends Challenges, (2011)
7 World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education, (2006)
8 Asian International Journal of Social Sciences, (2016)
9 Zhou, Chunfang, Integrating creativity training into Problem and Project-Based Learning curriculum in engineering education, European Journal of Engineering Education, 37, 5, pp. 488-499, (2012)
Quick Actions
Citation Metrics
3
Times Cited (Scopus)

References 9
Document Identifiers
  • EID 2-s2.0-85150689359
  • Language English