ShareThe opinion of employers regarding the education received by Industrial Engineering graduates
A report is published providing evidence regarding the implementation and performance of study programmes in the field of Industrial Engineering gleaned from the results of the 2018 survey in this sector
This survey aims to shed light on the opinion of employers regarding the education received by the recent Industrial Engineering graduates they have hired, particularly with regard to cross-disciplinary and specific skills, among other issues exhibiting substantial room for improvement.
The field of industrial engineering is very wide as it includes all the qualifications of the following groups: Naval Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Electronic and Automation Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design, Chemical and Materials Engineering and Industrial and Organizational Engineering.
The primary conclusions of the report are as follows:
- The demand for places on study programmes in the field of Industrial Engineering does not generally outweigh the number of places available. However, achievement rates are relatively low. Likewise, these Bachelor's degrees (along with those in ICT) exhibit the lowest proportions of women enrolled.
- Compared to the Catalan university system as a whole, Industrial Engineering graduates seem to be less satisfied the usefulness of the external training placements and, just the reverse, more satisfied with the usefulness of the Bachelor's degree final-year project.
- These graduates enjoy solid access to the labour market, with rates slightly exceeding the Catalan university system average. Likewise, the percentage of graduates who perform functions specific to their study programme is high. Industrial Engineering graduates also enjoy job stability and high salaries.
With regard to university education, the organisations that hire Industrial Engineering graduates have formed the following opinion:
- In terms of cross-disciplinary skills, practical training and problem-solving and decision-making, taken together, top the list of skills most found lacking. This shortcoming is felt in other sectors as well. There is also a standout need to improve graduates' language proficiency, creativity and self-reliance at work.
- Regarding the specific skills taught on Industrial Engineering study programmes, nearly half the organisations surveyed find graduates lacking in practical knowledge, i.e. the ability to apply knowledge and solve problems in new and unfamiliar environments, and the ability to plan, map out, calculate, design and execute technical actions in a given field of specialisation. A significant proportion also believe that graduates have room to improve when it comes to communicating effectively and solving problems under pressure.
- Despite these shortcomings, seven out of ten employers are satisfied with the overall skills of the recent graduates they have hired.
- Roughly seven out of ten organisations foresee an increase in skilled employment thanks to business expansion.
- According to the organisations surveyed, language proficiency and the ability to use new technologies will gain the most importance in the coming years.
The opinion of employers regarding the education received by Industrial Engineering graduates
L’opinió del col·lectiu ocupador sobre la formació de les persones titulades en Tecnologies Industrials
[document available in Catalan]