Study of Students' Educational Needs and Competencies Bachelor of Engineering Program in Industrial Engineering
Keywords:
Industrial Engineering, Industry 4.0, Engineering Competencies, Decision-Making Factors, Digital SkillsAbstract
This article investigates the factors influencing students’ decisions to pursue further studies in Industrial Engineering (IE), the evolving role of industrial engineers in the context of Industry 4.0, and the competencies required to support competency-based curriculum design under an Outcome-Based Education (OBE) framework. The results indicate that students’ decision-making is influenced by three primary dimensions: individual factors, career-related motivations, and social influences. These factors, together with institutional quality and reputation, significantly affect students’ intentions to continue their studies in IE programs. The study highlights the expanding role of industrial engineers in integrating core Industry 4.0 technologies—including the Internet of Things (IoT), Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data analytics, Cloud Computing, and Robotics—into modern manufacturing systems. This transformation introduces challenges related to cybersecurity, investment costs, and organizational readiness, which must be addressed through appropriate competency development. The required competencies for industrial engineers are synthesized into three domains: technical, managerial, and human competencies. Key competencies include data-driven decision-making, automation and digital system integration, systems thinking, communication, and adaptability, which align with expected learning outcomes in OBE-oriented engineering programs. Insights from industry stakeholders indicate a strong expectation for industrial engineering graduates to be work-ready upon entry into the workforce, revealing competency gaps that motivate some graduates to pursue postgraduate education to enhance specialized skills. The findings emphasize the necessity of aligning curriculum design, learning outcomes, and assessment methods with industry-driven competencies through a competency-based and OBE-oriented approach. Strengthened collaboration between higher education institutions and industry is therefore recommended to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of industrial engineering education in the digital era.
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