ENHANCING ENGINEERING EDUCATION THROUGH PROBLEM – BASED/ STUDENT -CENTRED LEARNING

                                                                                                                               J.B. Otuu & I. Nnanna

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana Afikpo, Ebonyi State

Email: johnotuu@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: The quality of engineering graduates from Nigerian universities and polytechnics has been a major source of concern to most industries in Nigeria. Most industries’ complaints stem from inadequate skill requirement for most cutting edge technologies, low practical knowledge and lack of confidence. Hence, most Nigerian engineering graduates are subjected to several retraining programmes since most of them are considered non-employable going by the quality of training they acquired from their various institutions. Following the trend in rising population, economic recession and social dynamics, it becomes pertinent that engineers owe a duty to do designs and implement sustainable systems and technologies with multidisciplinary implications. The engineers/technologists will need to poses such skills as technical know-how, critical thinking, creativity, life-long learning and team work among others, which underpin performance effectiveness in a wide array of settings or contexts. These skills (born out of teachings) are an integral part of what is expected from universities/polytechnics and therefore it beholds on every engineering faculty/school to ensure that appropriate curriculum, instructional strategies and assessment are designed to meet these demands.

Keywords: Creativity, Critical thinking, Engineering, Team work, Technical know-how