Comparison of Engineering Skills with IR 4.0 Skills

Abstract

In the heart of Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) is a set of rapidly evolving and converging technologies, which can bring sizeable consequences toward the economy, lifestyle, health, education, labour markets and skills development. The changes in the workforce setting of IR 4.0 have driven the need to obtain new skills that are aligned with the advancement of modern technology. This situation manifested itself since the current skills are no longer relevant and about to face a significant change in the entire field of work. Skills that are taught to the future graduates are out of sync with the current need of the industry, which eventually cost them their chance to fulfil the need of the workforce and increase the rate of unemployment among graduates. As a preparation to take up the challenges of the IR 4.0, graduates need to be exposed to appropriate skills to ensure their employment and to remain functioning in the ever-changing industry and technology environment. In this regard, this paper was done to compare the existing engineering skills with the new skills necessary for the IR 4.0. This article adopted a systematic review method considering previous studies on engineering skills required by the engineering accreditation bodies. Results from this study revealed seven skills identified as the gap in both sets of skills. These skills include analytical thinking and innovation; active learning and learning strategies; creativity, originality and initiative; technology design and programming; critical thinking and analysis; emotional intelligence; and system analysis and evaluation. Findings of this study can be used as a guidance to understand the current skills needed so that engineering graduates will have no problem in getting a job in the future.