Knowledge expansion in engineering education: engineering technology as an alternative

Abstract

The current and rising challenges in engineering education demand graduate engineers who are well-prepared to provide innovative solutions as techhnical specialistss, system integraators and changee agents. Realizing the importtance of produciing a highly competent mmanpower, the MMalaysian Governnment has put coonsiderable pressuure to the universsities to produce eengineers who are competitive in the global market. Hence, this assignmment of developiing a highly commpetence engineeriing technologist wworkforce in suppport of the governmentt policy highlightss issues pertaininng to the developmment and offering of practical-oriiented programs as a knowledge expansion in engineering education at uniiversities as envissioned by the Maalaysian Governmment. This paperr evaluates the cuurrent scenario annd examines the applicattion-oriented proggrams of engineeering technology eeducation as practice in local insttitutions in Malaaysia in comparissons to some universities abroad. It alsoo investigates the challenges faced by university mmanagement in deealing with issuess concerning natiional quality assurance aand accreditationn pertaining to thhe engineering tecchnology educatioon programs. Sppecifically, it anallyzes the faculty planning of pedagogies iin term of hands-on skills in teaaching and learniing. A key concclusion of this reesearch is that MMalaysian universsities need to evaluate itss engineering techhnology educationn strategies if they aim for quality assurance and accreditation to be established and aspire for successful aTtempts towards the creation of the requisite knowledge workers that Malaysia needs.