2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Many researchers fear that engineering students are not adequately developing creativity, entrepreneurial mindset, and cultural competency, which leaves them ill-prepared to solve 21st-century problems. Researchers indicate that these professional skills are not specifically included in the ABET student learning outcomes and therefore are not assessed in engineering curricula. There is an overarching concern that engineering curricula favor technical skills over professional skills. The purpose of this qualitative research study is to explore how engineering faculty are currently providing engineering students with opportunities to develop professional skills. Three semi-structured interviews and one focus group were conducted to capture the knowledge and perceptions of engineering faculty. Major findings include the engineering faculty’s lack of familiarity with non-ABET professional skills, the difficulty of making changes in technical classes, and the limitations in assessing professional skills. The researcher hopes that recommendations generated from this pilot study will draw attention to professional skill development in the engineering curriculum and encourage more research on enhancing the engineering curriculum to focus on these crucial skills.