AWEJ May, 2013 TESOL Sudan Conference 2012 Proceedings
Pp.61-78
Graduate Attributes Dilemma in Sudanese Tertiary Institutions: a Case of Engineering Graduates
Holi Ibrahim Holi Ali
School of Education & Professional Development
University of Huddersfield, UK
Abstract
This study is intended to explore Sudanese tertiary institutions engineering graduates beliefs about their current graduate attributes and their importance to their jobs, specifically communication skills in English language. Research has shown that spoken and written communication in English are of paramount importance for engineering graduates .Thus, this study aims at investigating and exploring 50 engineering graduates working in Oman for different companies and 20 Sudanese professors. Both questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyze data. The findings have implications for engineering education in Sudan because the vast majority of the respondents believed that graduate attributes are important and their undergraduate degrees did not equip them with adequate skills and they felt that their current communication skills in English need further improvement. The study puts forward recommendations with regard to textbook used, teaching methodology, integrating graduates attributes into the degrees, etc.
Keywords: graduate attributes communication skills, engineering graduates, dilemma