Outcome-based Education – The Assessment of Programme Educational Objectives for an Engineering Undergraduate Degree

Figures & data

Figure 1 The proposed linkage of Spady’s (1994) top to bottom levels of outcomes development with the incorporation of long-term PEOs.

Figure 2 Procedure in the formulation of PEOs.

Table 1 The PEOs of UNMC's Mechanical Engineering undergraduate degrees mapped to the UK-SPEC Learning Outcomes.

PEOs	PEOs statement	UK-SPEC statements adapted by the IMechE
PEO1	An understanding of the principles and techniques of mechanical engineering science and of the computational and mathematical tools used in the solution of real problems	US1, US2, US3, US1m, US2m, M5, M6
PEO2	The ability to apply these principles and methods in the practice of mechanical engineering	US3m, US4m, E1, E2, E3, E4, E1m, P3, P4, US2
PEO3	The ability to visualise, design and analyse components and assemblies in three dimensions	D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, M5, D4m
PEO4	A sound knowledge of material properties and manufacturing methods and their cost effective use in the design and improvement of engineering components and equipment	D1m, D4m, P1, P2, P7, P1m, P2m
PEO5	The ability to communicate ideas effectively in written reports, verbally and by means of presentations to groups	M1, M2, M3
PEO6	The ability to work as a member of a team and to display initiative and enterprise in the planning and realisation of engineering projects	M4, M7, US3m
PEO7	Confidence through practice in the use of experimental methods	E2m, E3m
PEO8	The appreciation of the responsibilities of Professional Mechanical Engineers and of the social, management and financial environment in which they work	S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S1m, S2m, P5, P6, P8, P8m, M7, US4m, D3, D6, P1m, P7

Table 2 Learning Outcomes set by the department to address transferable skills.

Transferable/key skills (M)
M1	Ability to prepare technical reports
M2	Ability to give technical presentations
M3	Ability to communicate effectively
M4	Leadership skills and ability to as a team
M5	Ability to use general IT tools
M6	Develop a scientific approach in solving problems
M7	Ability to learn independently and to adapt a critical approach in investigation

Figure 3 Key review processes to facilitate CQI.

Table 3 The six major groups in online questionnaire survey.

Group	Categories
1. Details	Student's degree
	Student's programme
	Year of graduation/study
2. Professional development	Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)
	Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM)
	Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UK (IMechE)
	Other relevant professional institutions
	Class of membership
3. Salary scale	Monthly salary scale
4. Job prospect	Area/industry
	Job title
	Number of staff under your leadership
5. Continuous professional training	Job training, self-initiated professional training
	Attendance of short course, seminar, workshop or conference
6. Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs)	PEO1 to PEO8

Figure 4 Industrial clusters of the respondents employed in their career.

Figure 5 Results from questionnaire survey showing PEOs attainment amongst alumni.

Spady, W. (1994) Choosing outcomes of significance. Educational Leadership 51 (6), 18–22.

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