From Students to Engineers: An Integrated Model for Educating the Whole Engineer

Innovating higher education to promulgate employ-ability, particularly in engineering, has been a long-standing challenge. While multiple alternative education models have been proposed with varying success, traditional ways of imparting en-gineering education focusing primarily on theoretical knowledge still dominate the sector. With the constantly evolving challenges of the technological sector and particularly the wider society, it is imperative that educators and institutions cater to the needs of not just a professional but the whole person. In this paper, we would like to present our engineering education model, which is based on a synergistic relationship between academic learning and workplace practices while combining human-centric soft skills to educate the whole engineer. This model represents an all-encompassing and forward-thinking approach to education, equipping students not only with knowledge and practical skills but also with ethics and entrepreneurial abilities. The efficacy of the model is represented in our graduate retention, their contribution, and progression in the workplace while tackling real-world engineering issues in a relatively short period.