Investigating the employment gap: What employers want from engineering graduates

Ashley Ater Kranov, Kinda Khalaf

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

A notable gap exists between the competencies that employers in the UAE want entry-level engineers to exhibit and the knowledge, skills and attitudes these fresh engineering graduates from UAE tertiary institutions are able to successfully demonstrate. Inadequate preparation of engineers in key competencies has been cited as one of the main threats to the sustainable development of the region. Misalignment between education and employers' needs was indicated as one of the main reasons behind the skills gaps. A multi-stage project has been launched to explore this misalignment. This paper focuses on Stage 1 of this multi-stage project: the scoping of the research design methodology for the analysis of job advertisements and an employer questionnaire, as well as the results from a preliminary content analysis of three job advertisements for entry-level engineers in the UAE.

Original languageBritish English
Title of host publicationProceedings of 2016 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON 2016
Subtitle of host publication"Smart Education in Smart Cities"
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages1198-1201
Number of pages4
ISBN (Electronic)9781467386333
DOIs
StatePublished - 19 May 2016
Event2016 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON 2016 - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Duration: 10 Apr 201613 Apr 2016

Publication series

NameIEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON
Volume10-13-April-2016
ISSN (Print)2165-9559
ISSN (Electronic)2165-9567

Conference

Conference2016 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited Arab Emirates
CityAbu Dhabi
Period10/04/1613/04/16

Keywords

  • employability
  • fresh graduates
  • job advertisements
  • professional skills
  • transferable skills

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