Advancing global capacity for engineering education research: relating research to practice,policy and industry |
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| Authors: | Brent K Jesiek Maura Borrego Kacey Beddoes |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Engineering Education and School of Electrical and Computer Engineering , Purdue University , West Lafayette, IN, USA;2. Department of Engineering Education , Virginia Tech , Blacksburg, VA, USA;3. Graduate Program in Science and Technology Studies , Virginia Tech , Blacksburg, VA, USA |
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| Abstract: | Findings are presented from a series of moderated interactive sessions held at international engineering education conferences between July 2007 and December 2008, where attendees discussed the current state and future trajectory of engineering education research. More specifically, this study examines how session attendees described: (1) the relationship between engineering education research and educational practice, policy considerations and industry; (2) important stakeholders, mechanisms/strategies and challenges for relating research to practice, policy and industry. Thematic analysis and open coding procedures were used to analyse the data collected at each session. In summary, frequent discussion and widespread consensus was observed about the need to relate engineering education research to the practice of engineering teaching. Discussions about relating research to policy and industry remain formative, but appear to be gaining traction. The paper concludes by proposing a cyclic model to better conceptualise how engineering education research can be strategically related to practice, profession and industry across diverse local and global contexts. |
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| Keywords: | engineering education research practice policy translation and enrolment |
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