1

Benefits of Engineering Education Recruitmentfrom

Vocational School

Trond ClausenTelemark University College (HiT)

Porsgrunn, Norway

ReflekTori ConferenceEspoo, Finland, 3 - 4 December, 2007

2

16 August, 1995

The HiT group of the Norwegian Society for Chartered Engineers (NIF) addressed the administration, stating:

The NIF group is acknowledging the fact that technical education at HiT like other places in the industrial world, presently is fighting a strong head wind. Simultaneously, the group is aware that the labor market looks promising to entering engineering students. Therefore, the group recommends that

the rules of admission should be changed so that graduates from vocational school's departments for the training of electricians, electronics technicians, chemistry technicians, and process operators could be admitted to the college, if possible, from the academic year 1996.

3

Background

• Legislation. Since 1978, all upper secondary education has been governed by a common law, stating (among others) that training should be given in "scientific thought and method". This requirement even applied to the vocational schools.

• Practical results of the legislation. The learning program resembles that of engineering education. New teachers having other skills (engineers, science and language teachers holding a bachelor's or a master's degree, etc.) are replacing the old. The teacher's role changes. Small trades are replaced by larger and combined trades; the principles of course integration and interdiscipline are introduced.

4

The principle of equivalence:

"...scientific thought and method..."

• NOT a concern restricted to upper secondary school's science departments

• In vocational school it's called SYSTEMS THINKING

5

One question to be answered:

Can we trust that vocational school teachers are loyal to the Ministry's requirement of giving an introduction to

"....scientific thought and method..."?

We do. Some results will follow.....

6

3 years of vocational school

3 years of voc. school + trade certificate

1 year of college preparation

3 years of engineering education; new program

3 years of engineering education

Two alternative roads,ordinary and pilot class (Y-VEI)

to a Bachelor's Degree in engineering

7

Credit transfer and substitutionContent and form of all vocational school interdisciplinary learning

programs had to be examined

(ETC: European Transfer Credit)

Course Comments ETC (-) ETC(+)

Theory of Electricity DC theory equivalent; AC theory added 3 3

Analog Technology Equivalent to HiT introductory course 6

Digital Technology Equivalent to HiT introductory course 6

Chemistry/Environment Extended by adding Physics 3 9

Social Science Different but larger than for “ordinary” stud. 9

Instrumentation Equivalent to HiT introductory course 6

Mathematics Catching up with “ordinary” students 21

Technical English Written and oral business communication 3

Total 36 36

8

Benefits of Y-VEI

• More students (no closing of department)• Improved retention• Better academic results• Exceptional high starting salaries• Students doing well in foreign universities• Better contact between industry confede-rations

and HiT

Some documentation will follow...

9

Some consequences

• HiT must handle a more complicated and expensive administrative system

• The Y-VEI concept has spread to other colleges and disciplines

• The pilot project and its academic results has inspired the Ministry to preparing a law on lifelong learning

10

Student body development & retention

0

20

40

60

80

100

2002

/03

2003

/04

2004

/05

2005

/06

2006

/07

Enteringstudents

Diplomas

Retention (%) - national average is about 57 %

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Qualified1) applicants 51 127 101 103 107 137

Competition points None 38.0 39.7 41.7 40.0 43.5

Class size, 1 October 36 46 45 43 49 50

Class size, 1 October, 2007 - - - 39 50 50

Graduation class 26 36 42 - - -

Diplomas2) 24 31 31 - - -

Student body development

11

Class average grade point ratio (GPR) after one year of study

00,5

11,5

22,5

33,5

44,5

5

2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07

A: 4.5 to 5.0

B: 3.5 to 4.5

C: 2.5 to 3.5

D: 1.5 to 2.5

E: 1.0 to 1.5

F: 0 to 1.0 (Non-passing grade)

12

Discussion?

• Vocational school status in your country?

• Do you have similar programs?

• Political/legislative incitements in your country?

• Pro's & Con's?