Title: Comparative academic performance of engineering and technology students at Deakin University, Australia

Authors: Stuart Palmer, Sharyn Bray

Addresses: School of Engineering and Technology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia. School of Engineering and Technology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia

Abstract: Students completing three-year engineering technology and four-year professional engineering undergraduate courses may undertake a number of common study units. To gain an objective understanding of the academic performance characteristics of both student groups in the engineering and technology programs at Deakin University (Australia), a study was undertaken of close to 9000 unit enrolments. It was found that: overall the BTech withdrawal rate was about 20% higher than for BE students; the rate of withdrawal was significantly different between the two student groups; the grade distribution for completing students was not significantly different between the two groups; the mean final grade was not significantly different between the two student groups; the failure rate was not significantly different between the two student groups; and the overall wastage rate (withdrawn rate plus fail rate) was significantly higher for BTech students. Other related results are also reported.

Keywords: continuing engineering education; engineering technologist; professional engineer; engineering workforce; student persistence; academic performance; undergraduate study.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2003.002157

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2003 Vol.13 No.1/2, pp.132-147

Published online: 21 Jul 2003 *

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