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Evaluating the Role of the Communication Skills of Engineering Students on Employability According to the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) Theory

Author

Listed:
  • Ying Wu

    (School of Foreign Languages, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China)

  • Lin Xu

    (School of Foreign Languages, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China)

  • Simon P. Philbin

    (School of Engineering, London South Bank University, London SE1 0AA, UK)

Abstract

With the advent of the digital age and Industry 4.0, the communication skills of engineering students has been exerting gradually increasing influence on the need for enhanced student employability. To address this issue, this study evaluates the influence of communication skills on the employability of engineering students from the aspects of verbal and non-verbal skills through the four key elements of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) theory. A total of 130 college engineering students and practitioners participated in the questionnaire survey, and the hypotheses were tested by regression analysis and a structural equation model (SEM). The results show that in the digital age, the verbal ( p < 0.01) and non-verbal ( p < 0.001) components of students’ communication skills play a significant role in the employability of engineering students. Meanwhile, the employer’s assessment simultaneously makes a significant contribution to the further improvement of students’ communication skills, which can help educators further cultivate and improve students’ communication skills through the assessment of their employability by employers. Therefore, this research has theoretical and practical significance, which not only enriches the basic theoretical knowledge, but also broadens the training methods of engineering students in the digital age, thus enhancing their employability.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying Wu & Lin Xu & Simon P. Philbin, 2023. "Evaluating the Role of the Communication Skills of Engineering Students on Employability According to the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-26, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:12:p:9711-:d:1173411
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Abdullah M. Almuhaideb & Saqib Saeed, 2020. "Fostering Sustainable Quality Assurance Practices in Outcome-Based Education: Lessons Learned from ABET Accreditation Process of Computing Programs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-26, October.
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    3. Wei Zheng & Shiting Wen & Bin Lian & Ya Nie, 2023. "Research on a Sustainable Teaching Model Based on the OBE Concept and the TSEM Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Mirjana Kovac & N. Sirkovic, 2017. "Attitudes towards Communication Skills among Engineering Students," English Language Teaching, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 10(3), pages 111-111, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nádya Zanin Muzulon & Luis Mauricio Resende & Gislaine Camila Lapasini Leal & Paulo Cesar Ossani & Joseane Pontes, 2025. "Engineering in the Digital Age: A Career-Level Competency Framework Validated by the Productive Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-28, August.
    2. Nádya Zanin Muzulon & Luis Mauricio Resende & Gislaine Camila Lapasini Leal & Joseane Pontes, 2025. "Beyond Technical Skills: Competency Framework for Engineers in the Digital Transformation Era," Societies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-23, August.
    3. Miao Tian, 2024. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Nurturing Entrepreneurial Mindsets and Talent Training for English Majors: An Outcome-Based Education Paradigm," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 10485-10515, September.

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