Keeping Technical Education Aligned to the Needs and Expectations of Industry

Abstract

Abstract Paper describes the continuous quality improvement procedures used by the author to keep the General Engineering program at Penn State Hazleton aligned to the needs and expectations of industry. The paper addresses the procedure for the development of program educational objectives which are the goals of the program. The goals of the program are defined jointly by industry leaders and former Engineering graduates as well as the Engineering faculty. The paper also focuses on the development of the student outcomes which is the body of knowledge that every graduate should have at the day of graduation. The paper also explains the process for collecting data for the purpose of assessing the level of attainment of program objectives and student outcomes. Based on the data which is being collected on an ongoing basis, the necessary corrective actions are implemented. This is happening on the program level as well as the course level. The necessary changes on the course level are happening every semester. The adjustments to the Engineering curriculum are being made yearly usually during the summer months. The paper focuses on the constant need for revising the curriculum in order to stay current with technology.