For many years, undergraduate engineering programs have focused primarily on the classroom experience. To provide more authentic pre-professional preparation, however, undergraduate programs have increasingly encouraged out-of-class experiences such as senior design capstone projects, project-based learning, and service learning. While engineering students now graduate with stronger preparation for professional practice, employers still invest significant resources in onboarding programs for early-career engineers. These onboarding programs may include a combination of classroom experiences, technical department rotations, and mentorship. Employers like the Indiana State Department of Transportation, Caterpillar Inc., and General Electric describe their onboarding programs as including technical elements like design, professional skill development such as leadership, and in some cases, mentorship.

Although many research studies suggest that project-based learning and service learning programs enhance student preparedness for engineering practice, little is known about how onboarding programs develop the knowledge and skills of early-career engineers, and how these programs build upon the knowledge that they acquired as undergraduates. Preliminary findings suggest that the transitional onboarding programs in engineering practice strengthens competencies such as working on multicultural teams, networking skills, and develop project management skills.

Bunmi Babajide, Hassan Ali Al Yagoub

10.17.19: 10:30-Noon, Room 9