Defining A European Engineer Profile Within A European University Alliance

Abstract

The world needs more engineers and Europe provides a rich and diverse environment to train them, including shared values of sustainability and interculturalism. In this paper we attempt to build a profile for a “European engineer” based on skills and competences acquired in a European University Alliance centred around engineering education (EELISA, European Engineering Learning Innovation Alliance). We carried out an on-line survey for students and staff of partner universities as well as nine indepth interviews (50 min) with relevante stakeholders. The questions included in the survey are described as well as general results from 75 respondents. The overall results from the in-depth interviews are also presented and discussed within the framework of the training concepts also promoted by international associations, including SEFI. Finally, we use our findings to suggest four conceptual fields for a European engineer profile: 1) Scientific and theoretical knowledge including digital skills, 2) Addressing sustainability, 3) Interculturalism: an engineer embracing the European project, and 4) Business and communication skills: practical and applied knowledge.