What core competencies should a great engineer possess? A comparative study from the perspective of engineering undergraduates in China and the United States

Abstract

Excellent engineers are an important strategic talent force of the country. studying its core competencies and development status serves as the critical foundation for the cultivation of these talents in the new era. One questionnaire for 2460 engineering undergraduates from a first-class university suggests that the core competence is comprised of knowledge, skills, and competence/ability/capacity. Students value basic knowledge including mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering science, while also attach great important to the skills to apply scientific engineering knowledge in practice, and the ability to self-motivate and inspire. Economic and business knowledge, leadership, curiosity and the desire to keep learning were the most lacking among students. By further comparing the core competencies of excellent engineers from the perspective of students from China and the United States. it is found that Chinese students highlight the mastery and application of basic knowledge, while American students value effective communication and leadership more. Chinese students value the ability to self-drive and motivation, whereas American students give priority to teamwork and the ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams. To cultivate excellent engineers in the new era, we should strengthen the integration of curriculum in engineering education, emphasize the learning of basic knowledge, expand students potential, forster students' active learning motive, and Create engineering practice scenarios, cultivate the core competencies of future engineers.