Identification of non-technical competency gaps of engineering graduates in Chile

Abstract

A study was performed to identify the non-technical competencies needed by engineering graduates in Chile. A list of abilities andknowledge attributes were derived from similar studies and the expectations expressed by professional organizations. Input wasreceived from managers of 75 different companies across a broad range of industries and sizes and 116 engineering graduatesregarding the importance and preparation for 57 abilities and knowledge attributes in 10 categories. Each competency was given apriority based on one of three criteria: 50% or more of managers reporting it to be of the highest level of importance, an averagerating greater than a cutoff, and a weighted measure of priority incorporating the importance and gap between graduate preparation and needs. The results suggest that, to managers in Chile, the most important non-technical competencies are in theareas of project control, ethics, communications, teamwork, innovation and budgeting. The competencies identified as importantwere similar to those seen in studies in other countries, but with a greater emphasis on ethics and innovation and less emphasis onquality and customer focus. A method for prioritizing the important competencies was also presented. Many initiatives wereproposed to improve specific non-technical competencies that graduates need for competing in the Chilean job market. This paperpresents the methodology, the findings, the comparisons with results from similar studies in other countries, and the strategiesdeveloped as a result of the findings.