Electrical engineers’ perceptions on education – electromagnetic field theory and its connection to working life

Abstract

This paper investigates electrical engineers’ perceptions on their education in Finland, with particular emphasis on the basic electromagnetic field theory courses and their applicability in working life, using two online surveys (n=99 and n=120). The answers show a reasonably good satisfaction with the electrical engineering studies in general, but limited practical usefulness of the field theory courses in working life. However, both respondent groups mentioned that electromagnetic field theory should belong to the basic electrical engineering curriculum, which suggests a need to strengthen the connections between the different topics in the curriculum to enable a better holistic understanding of electrical engineering.

Keywords:

• electrical engineers
• electromagnetics education
• field theory
• working life

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Academy Professor Ari Sihvola and Professors Jonte Bernhard and José Manuel Nunes de Oliveira for their helpful comments. The authors would also like to thank the Faculty of Electrical, Communications and Automation and Lifelong Learning Institute Dipoli at Aalto University for the financial support.