OSPE - The Voice - June 2017 - 19

Cover

Engineers also reported significant organizational changes over the past 5 years. The
most common organizational changes reported were as follows: (a) a reduction in the
number of employees (40%); (b) a reduction in the number of managers/supervisors
(23%); and (c) an increase in over-time hours (22%).
eduCaTIOn
The survey included a series of questions to assess engineers' attitudes about their
professional education. Table 6 summarizes these findings, indicating the percentage
of respondents that agreed or strongly agreed with the statements.

Table 6. Percentage of respondents agreeing with statements on engineering education
Percentage Agree
or Strongly Agree

Total
Number

My engineering degree prepared me well for my career

69.2

618

Engineering education is too theoretical and does not provide enough training in
real-world applications

47.3

618

I wish I had more business training in my engineering program

56.5

618

My engineering program prepared me for meeting the ethical challenges I face on the job

48.0

617

I consider my engineering education to have been a good career investment

87.7

618

If I had to do it over again, I would still choose to complete my degree in engineering

78.7

617

Over two-thirds of engineer survey respondents agreed that their degree prepared
them well for their careers. Follow-up analyses are required to find out where the
education was lacking for the other 30% of survey respondents. Some possible
explanations are provided in the responses to the next few education statements.
Almost half of engineers agreed that engineering was too theoretical and did not
provide enough real-world applications, while over half wished they had received
more business training. Also, only 48% of survey respondents felt that their degree
program had prepared them for the ethical challenges they faced on the job.

40%

of respondents said the most common
workplace change was the reduction in
the number of employees

23%

Nonetheless, the majority of engineering respondents are positive about the
education they received. Almost 90% considered an engineering degree a good career
investment, and 80% said that if they had to do it all over again, they would still
choose to complete their degrees in engineering.

said a reduction in the number of
managers/supervisors was a common
organizational change

In the coming months, researchers will be conducting more data analyses, and will
have more findings to share. We will also be conducting some follow-up in-depth
interviews with engineer volunteers over the next few months. Thanks to all who
volunteered.

22%

reported an increase in over-time hours

Tracey L. Adams, Ph.D.
University of Western Ontario

June 2017

The VOICe

19



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