Assessing the status and prioritization of non-technical skills of engineering graduates in the fourth industrial revolution from the perspective of employers and graduates

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify and prioritize non-technical skills required by engineering disciplines of Urmia University. The statistical population of this study included industrial employers and engineering graduates of Urmia University, which was selected by stratified sampling method based on Morgan table. The research method used is descriptive-survey. The measurement tool and data collection tool in this study was a questionnaire whose validity and reliability were examined and confirmed in the present study. SPSS 23 software was used for data analysis. The results of data analysis show that the average of all non-technical skills of Urmia University graduates in terms of employers is higher than the theoretical average, which is at a desirable level. In the ranking of skills, by surveying graduates, in critical skills from the highest and in emotional intelligence skills from the lowest average, and from the point of view of employers, graduates had the highest in responsibility skills and lowest average in creativity skills. It is recommended that the approved curriculum that the university considers for engineering disciplines to improve non-technical skills should be such that the curriculum is designed in according with the current and future needs of engineering organizations. Holding class projects, education and training essential skills that can develop students’ emotional intelligence and creativity skills should be considered.

Keywords

• fourth industrial revolution
• non-technical skills
• employers
• graduates