Engineering as a career choice

Abstract

Malta is currently experiencing a shortage in science graduates. The country needs to have more engineering graduates to supply its local industry and to promote research and development. The aim of this study was to investigate; the reasons for which students opt for an engineering career; the students' knowledge about the engineering course and career; their preparation for the engineering course; the undergraduate students' preparation for the labour market; and the role of gender in the choice of the engineering career. The main methodology involved in-depth qualitative interviews with students from different levels of training in engineering. Interviews with fifteen undergraduate engineers; four sixth-form students; a student from MCAST; and two engineers, were carried out. Results indicate that personal interest in Mathematics and Physics and the creative aspect of the engineering career are important influencing factors in the students' choice of the engineering career. Students have very little knowledge about the engineering course and career and they are not fully prepared for the engineering course at the start of university. Half way through the course the students still do not have a complete understanding of the engineering career due to lack of practical experiences. This research also shows that school-to-work transition is a difficult experience for engineering graduates and that the engineering career is still considered to be gender biased by a number of students. In view of these findings, a number of recommendations are suggested to help promote better the engineering career in order to attract more students towards engineering.