University Engineering Education in Saudi Arabia: Evaluation of the Graduates' Competencies

摘要

A growing shift in focus on quality and output encourages universities to meet the labor market needs by producing highly skilled and well-trained graduates. This paper identifies students' competencies on University led engineering programs in Saudi Arabia. Working towards mastering mathematical skills and exploring their relationship with innovation and design. In this study, 902 people took part from three universities; King Saud, King Abdul Aziz, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. Participants were split into four categories: faculty members of administrative and technical bodies, final level students, and graduates from the program. The study dealt with five axes: 1. The program provides students with knowledge, theories and engineering principles related to their profession, 2. The program helps students to be aware of scientific and technical developments in their field of profession, 3. Students use logical and reasoning to solve the engineering problems they face, 4. Students can use appropriate mathematical and computer techniques in analysis and reasoning. 5. Students can design, implement and evaluate engineering projects. The research found the presence of significant and statistical differences between students' competences in Saudi Arabian universities. They showed a strong link between mathematical skills and an increased ability to design and undertake engineering projects. The research found students were well equipped with the knowledge, theories and principles they needed in relation to their competences. And enabled them to use these methods of reasoning and logical thinking to solve engineering problems. They demonstrated the ability to innovate and push boundaries in design and product implementation. The research recommended the necessity to provide students with the knowledge and theories of engineering principles to increase their competences. Teaching them using deductive reasoning and logical thinking to solve engineering problems. Focusing on increasing their ability to use the appropriate mathematical and computational methods in their analysis. Thus, it will allow Saudi Arabian universities to identify and develop talented individuals in their field and stay at the cutting edge of the engineering design industry.