Student’s Characteristics as a Basis for Competency Development in Engineering Informatics Education

Abstract

Current technological innovations and continuous change in the labor market have generated new challenges for higher education, and thrown new light upon the importance of competency development in engineering education. Responsibility, flexibility, communication and collaborative skills, self-motivation, problem-solving and innovation are the most required skills by employers. However, individual differences like personality traits or interpersonal skills of students can also be considered relevant factors influencing teachers’ attitudes towards integration of effective methods into engineering education. The purpose of this paper is to examine the competencies of undergraduates attending Engineering Informatics education, and to identify their personal needs for development in the light of workplace demands. Personality characteristics of Engineering Informatics students are also addressed in this research in order to reveal possible ways of involving them into the teaching and learning process by implementing new methods or approaches in Engineering Informatics education in Hungary.