Implementation of Delphi methodology for designing engineering syllabus according to the industry's needs
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Construction and civil engineering are multidisciplinary professions where students are acquiring a career that is based on the durable knowledge; practical abilities and industry's needs.Other studies, such as mathematics or physics are pure science based on theoretical knowledge.But a question persists: is the knowledge acquired by engineering student completely needed by the industry?Are engineering syllabus actualized and designed considering the industries' needs emerged by the continuous change in the sector?It is very important that the industry receives well qualified and specialized engineers able to assume their responsibility and to carry out their job assignments.The industry should be involved in the determination of the main courses of an engineering syllabus.This paper presents the implementation of the Delphi method to investigate the industry's needs regarding engineering education.This implementation doesn't contradict with durable knowledge to be acquired by students, durable knowledge doesn't mean being rigid and non-innovative.Engineering departments should adopt auto innovative process for its syllabus design.This methodology could be suitable for some engineering more than others.In construction and civil one, we believe that new graduate engineers should be qualified for the ultimate industry tendencies.This methodology enhances the dialogue between the industry and the syllabus designers.Through the Delphi, a documented and questionnaire oriented dialogue is achieved.The main deliverable of this implementation is to find an interactive tool to actualize and redesign an engineering syllabus, considering the industries´ needs while maintaining the curricular coherence and homogeneity.Each single department can apply this methodology independently from the whole school to actualize its own syllabus.The paper consists of: an introduction; a revision of the application of the Delphi method in the investigation of similar fields; the design of the Delphi method application process to carry out the investigation; and conclusions.
Institutions: Universitat Politècnica de València, University of Hartford
Language: English
Subfield: Media Technology
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4409109300