Students’ expectations analysis before and after a curricular internship

School of Engineering | University of MinhoStudents’ expectations analysis before and after a curricular internship

Students’ expectations analysis before and after a curricular internship Isabel M. Brás Pereira, Paulo Silva, M. Teresa Sena Esteves, Margarida M. Ribeiro,

Anabela Guedes, Celina P. Leão, Filomena Soares

Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto | PortugalEscola de Engenharia| Universidade do Minho | Portugal

2 - 4 November 2016, Salamanca, Spain


Outline

Introduction

Curricular Internship in Chemical Engineering Graduation (ISEP)

Material and Methodology

Results and Discussion

Final Remarks


Introduction Curricular Internship in Chemical Eng. Graduation (ISEP)Material and Methodology Results and DiscussionFinal Remarks

Motivation

Independently of the formation area, authors are unanimous in affirming

that internship programs provide the opportunity to develop students´

technical and soft skills

Chemical Eng

Management Electrical Eng.

Health Industrial Eng

…



Motivation

Previous study (Pereira et al, 2015):

- analysis based on the company supervisors’ viewpoints

- students have the adequate skills to perform a one-semester internship

in a company

- students’ performance is very well classified by companies’ supervisors


To analyze

expectations of chemical engineering students towards

their first professional experience

before and after their curricular internship


Main goal of this study




Project/Internship : 1st Cycle Chemical Engineering, last (3rd) yearOptions : engineering project (plant design) or curricular internship

Number of enrolled students and internships

Recent scenario

2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/160

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Total studentsInternships

88%

70%

47%

82%


Internship• 4 to 5 months• 4 days / week• working schedule = to regular employees



4 other coursesmostly evening classes

reports, tests, team works…

Last semester of the study programme

professional commitment

diving in real working life


• Course outcomes for the student

- development of personal and technical skills in what concerns the work in a real organisation;

- planning work and meeting deadlines;- executing well and in time proposed tasks;- interpreting and discussing results;- applying acquired knowledge;- writing a final report clearly describing the work done and the results obtained.




1st

tool definition:

questionnaire

2nd Data

colletion

3rd Data analysis and “outliers” identification


Methodology


1st

tool definition:

questionnaire

2nd Data

colletion


- Part I:

- Student characterization

- Part II:

- Global assessment of the graduation

- Self assessment

- Expectations regarding internship

- Main reason for internship choice

- Open question

BEFORE


Methodology


1st

tool definition:

questionnaire

2nd Data

colletion


- Part I:


- Part II:


- Self assessment

- Outcomes regarding internship

- Open question


Methodology

AFTER


1st

tool definition:

questionnaire

2nd Data

colletion


34 items assessed with a 5-point Likert scale 1 Very Poor to 5 Very Goodand “No opinion”

- Part I:


- Part II:


- Self assessment

- Expectations / Outcomes


- Open question


Methodology


1st

tool definition:

questionnaire

2nd Data

colletion


- Part I:


- Part II:


- Self assessment



- Open question

Validation:- within a group of students - evaluation of internal consistency or reliability of the instrument (Cronbach's alpha)


Methodology


1st

tool definition:

questionnaire

2nd Data

colletion


- Part I:


- Part II:


- Self assessment



- Open question


Methodology


1st

tool definition:

questionnaire

2nd Data

collection


- 1st moment: before the internship

started, company and subject of work

already defined

- 2nd moment: just after the end of the

internship but before the final

presentation

- an initial explanation of the research

purposes was made.

- all students answered


Methodology



Methodology

1st

tool definition:

questionnaire

2nd Data

collection

3rd Data analysis:

students’ expectations/

outcomes



Sample Characterization

44 students


68.2

31.8Female Male

GENDER

(%)


44 students



54.540.9

4.6

21 or less 22 to 24

25 or more


44 students


AGE

(%)


Results and discussion

Student’s self assessment

2.1 Scientific preparation for the internship

2.2 Technical preparation for the internship

2.3 Sense of responsibility for the internship

2.4 Ability to make interpersonal relationships with the company supervisor

2.5 Ability to make interpersonal relationships with the other company staff

2.6 Ability to work in a team

2.7 Autonomy and spirit of initiative

2.8 Ability to manage time and meet deadlines

2.9 Ability to articulate the internship with other curricular activities

2.10 Availability of transportation to move between home/company/ISEP

2.11 Increase of expenses with the internship





Student’s self assessmentmin – Median - max

Before

2.1 Scientific preparation for the internship 3 - 4 - 5

2.2 Technical preparation for the internship 2 - 4 - 5

2.3 Sense of responsibility for the internship 2 - 5 - 5

2.4 Ability to make interpersonal relationships with the company supervisor 3 - 4 - 5

2.5 Ability to make interpersonal relationships with the other company staff 3 - 4 - 5

2.6 Ability to work in a team 3 - 5 - 5

2.7 Autonomy and spirit of initiative 3 - 4 - 5

2.8 Ability to manage time and meet deadlines 3 - 4 - 5

2.9 Ability to articulate the internship with other curricular activities 3 - 4 - 5

2.10 Availability of transportation to move between home/company/ISEP 1 - 4 - 5

2.11 Increase of expenses with the internship 1 - 4 - 5





StatisticsT (A-B)

Before After

2.1 Scientific preparation for the internship 3 - 4 - 5 2 - 4 - 4 60

2.2 Technical preparation for the internship 2 - 4 - 5 3 - 4 - 5 105.5

2.3 Sense of responsibility for the internship 2 - 5 - 5 3 - 5 - 5 32.5

2.4 Ability to make interpersonal relationships with the company supervisor 3 - 4 - 5 3 - 5 - 5 80.5

2.5 Ability to make interpersonal relationships with the other company staff 3 - 4 - 5 3 - 5 - 5 99.5

2.6 Ability to work in a team 3 - 5 - 5 3 - 5 - 5 48

2.7 Autonomy and spirit of initiative 3 - 4 - 5 3 - 4 - 5 30

2.8 Ability to manage time and meet deadlines 3 - 4 - 5 2 - 4 - 5 60

2.9 Ability to articulate the internship with other curricular activities 3 - 4 - 5 1 - 4 - 5 42.5

2.10 Availability of transportation to move between home/company/ISEP 1 - 4 - 5 1 - 4 - 5 124.5

2.11 Increase of expenses with the internship 1 - 4 - 5 1 - 4 - 5 108.5





StatisticsT (A-B)

Before After

2.1 Scientific preparation for the internship 3 - 4 - 5 2 - 4 - 4 60

2.2 Technical preparation for the internship 2 - 4 - 5 3 - 4 - 5 105.5

2.3 Sense of responsibility for the internship 2 - 5 - 5 3 - 5 - 5 32.5

2.4 Ability to make interpersonal relationships with the company supervisor 3 - 4 - 5 3 - 5 - 5 80.5

2.5 Ability to make interpersonal relationships with the other company staff 3 - 4 - 5 3 - 5 - 5 99.5

2.6 Ability to work in a team 3 - 5 - 5 3 - 5 - 5 48

2.7 Autonomy and spirit of initiative 3 - 4 - 5 3 - 4 - 5 30

2.8 Ability to manage time and meet deadlines 3 - 4 - 5 2 - 4 - 5 60

2.9 Ability to articulate the internship with other curricular activities 3 - 4 - 5 1 - 4 - 5 42.5

2.10 Availability of transportation to move between home/company/ISEP 1 - 4 - 5 1 - 4 - 5 124.5

2.11 Increase of expenses with the internship 1 - 4 - 5 1 - 4 - 5 108.5

Difference in




Student’s expectations

3.1 To increase scientific preparation

3.2 To increase technical preparation

3.3 To increase the capacity to meet new challenges

3.4 To increase the ability to work under pressure

3.5 To increase oral communication skills

3.6 To increase written communication skills

3.7 To increase the ease in getting a job

3.8 To apply the knowledge acquired during the chemical engng graduation

3.9 To increase skills in an area where they want to work in the future

3.10 To increase skills in areas least covered in the chemical engng graduation

3.11 To have the opportunity of getting a job in the internship company




Student’s expectationsmin – Median - max

Before

3.1 To increase scientific preparation 3 - 4 – 5

3.2 To increase technical preparation 4 - 5 – 5

3.3 To increase the capacity to meet new challenges 4 - 5 – 5

3.4 To increase the ability to work under pressure 3 - 5 – 5

3.5 To increase oral communication skills 2 - 4 – 5

3.6 To increase written communication skills 3 - 4 – 5

3.7 To increase the ease in getting a job 1 - 4 – 5

3.8 To apply the knowledge acquired during the chemical engng graduation 2 - 4 – 5

3.9 To increase skills in an area where they want to work in the future 4 - 4 – 5

3.10 To increase skills in areas least covered in the chemical engng graduation 2 - 4 – 5

3.11 To have the opportunity of getting a job in the internship company 2 - 4 - 5





StatisticsT (A-B)

Before After

3.1 To increase scientific preparation 3 - 4 – 5 2 - 4 – 5 66.5

3.2 To increase technical preparation 4 - 5 – 5 3 - 4 – 5 40

3.3 To increase the capacity to meet new challenges 4 - 5 – 5 3 - 4 – 5 16

3.4 To increase the ability to work under pressure 3 - 5 – 5 1 - 4 – 5 66

3.5 To increase oral communication skills 2 - 4 – 5 1 - 4 – 5 46

3.6 To increase written communication skills 3 - 4 – 5 1 - 4 – 5 103.5

3.7 To increase the ease in getting a job 1 - 4 – 5 1 - 4 – 5 80.5

3.8 To apply the knowledge acquired during the chemical engng graduation 2 - 4 – 5 1 - 4 – 5 65

3.9 To increase skills in an area where they want to work in the future 4 - 4 – 5 2 - 4 – 5 55

3.10 To increase skills in areas least covered in the chemical engng graduation 2 - 4 – 5 2 - 4 – 5 103.5

3.11 To have the opportunity of getting a job in the internship company 2 - 4 - 5 1 - 3 – 5 60





StatisticsT (A-B)

Before After

3.1 To increase scientific preparation 3 - 4 – 5 2 - 4 – 5 66.5

3.2 To increase technical preparation 4 - 5 – 5 3 - 4 – 5 40

3.3 To increase the capacity to meet new challenges 4 - 5 – 5 3 - 4 – 5 16

3.4 To increase the ability to work under pressure 3 - 5 – 5 1 - 4 – 5 66

3.5 To increase oral communication skills 2 - 4 – 5 1 - 4 – 5 46

3.6 To increase written communication skills 3 - 4 – 5 1 - 4 – 5 103.5

3.7 To increase the ease in getting a job 1 - 4 – 5 1 - 4 – 5 80.5

3.8 To apply the knowledge acquired during the chemical engng graduation 2 - 4 – 5 1 - 4 – 5 65

3.9 To increase skills in an area where they want to work in the future 4 - 4 – 5 2 - 4 – 5 55

3.10 To increase skills in areas least covered in the chemical engng graduation 2 - 4 – 5 2 - 4 – 5 103.5

3.11 To have the opportunity of getting a job in the internship company 2 - 4 - 5 1 - 3 – 5 60

Difference in



Final remarks

• Objective

- to analyse the self-evaluation and the expectations/outcomes of

chemical engineering students towards a curricular internship

• Tool

- questionnaire handed before starting the internship and after its end

•Sample

- 44 students of the 3rd (last) year of 1st cycle in Chemical Engineering



Final remarks

• self-evaluation and students’ expectations before starting the internship

are globally very positive, with medians of 4 and 5 for all items

• ten in 22 items showed statistical differences before and after

• in all these cases, the tendency is to observe better classifications before

the internship



Final remarks

• before internship, students classify very positively their skills towards

professional integration and have very high expectations regarding the

outcomes of the internship;

• after internship, students make a quite similar self-evaluation of their

skills;

• real achievements stay below initial expectations

• even so overall classification is very positive, confirming the importance

of this experience in students’ formation


2 - 4 November 2016, Salamanca, Spain

Thank you

Isabel M. Brás Pereira, Paulo Silva, M. Teresa Sena Esteves, Margarida M. Ribeiro, Anabela Guedes, Celina P. Leão, Filomena Soares

Corresponding Author: [email protected]

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the Research Centre CIETI (Centro de Inovação em Engenharia e Tecnologia Industrial) and FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia of the projects COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and UID/CEC/00319-2013 for all the support provided.


• Selection of internship working place

- students’ search- CED support (previous partnerships, new contacts, ...)

• Internship theme, plan & general objectives proposal: company

Validation: CED

• Selection of candidates- interview by the “employer”- academic grades- location(...)






• Work supervision and course assessment

Internship follow-up:o tutor in company +

“dedicated” teacher in CED: regular meetings with student; one or more meetings with company tutor

o progress reporto oral intermediate presentation




• Work supervision and course assessment

Final assessmento student’s performance in the company (60%)o written report (25%)o oral presentation and discussion (15%)

10 ECTS in 180 ECTS

Students’ expectations analysis before and after a curricular internship

Education

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