An Approach to Develop Competencies of Students in Aircraft Maintenance Engineer License Program of Civil Aviation Training Center to Respond to the Needs of Business Enterprises

Abstract

The purpose of this research was 1) to study the competencies of students in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer License Program (AMEL) to meet the needs of business enterprises 2) to propose an approach to develop the competency of students in the AMEL program according to the needs of business enterprises. This research is a mixed-method research. Key informants were 15 staff in charge of the aircraft maintenance segment from business enterprises selected by purposive sampling. The sample group was 234 aircraft maintenance staff in business enterprises who graduated from the AMEL program of the Civil Aviation Training Center from 2010 – 2019, referring to Taro Yamane. The research instruments were a semi-structured interview form and a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was used for quantitative data, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Content analysis was used for qualitative data.

The research results were as follows:  1) The business enterprises needed attitudes, knowledge, and skill, respectively.2) Purposed guidelines in developing the competency of students were cooperation with business enterprises to create a natural work environment enhancing students’ experience, implementation of project-based learning to enhance  working attitudes of students focusing on safety, teamwork, responsibility, work discipline and self-development, and integration of knowledge and practical techniques to promote knowledge of aircraft maintenance, general aviation, and laws and regulations-related skills, including decision-making and problem-solving skills.