Role of engineering on students’ academic achievement at university level

Abstract

Background: The way engineering education affects students academic achievement in the university setting is kinda complex, it works in more than one direction, like, it can boost academic progress but also create hurdles for educational growth. With technology moving so fast and getting more and more blended into higher education institutions this has become a real focus, it needs careful, systematic attention, for both male and female students at the tertiary level. Objective: This study aims to look at the direct plus indirect influences of engineering linked factors on students academic achievement at the university level, and then check these influences using hypotheses that were set beforehand, with special attention given to gender based comparisons among higher education students. Method: A qualitative research approach was used, and it included measures tied to motivation and perception. Data collection centered on ideas such as individualized learning and competency based learning, also on how well students use local resources in a smarter way. The hypotheses were built from the objectives and then tested, so we could see how engineering related factors connect with academic performance. Result: The results show that engineering related factors have a significant effect, but it’s dual natured, meaning they can help students, and they can also hold them back in terms of academic achievement and broader educational development. Factors linked to quality-like what comes from engineering practice-showed up as important drivers of learning outcomes. Individualized learning and competency based learning, plus improved use of local resources, were found to meaningfully shape student performance for both male and female groups. Conclusion: Engineering actually plays a pretty substantial role in steering academic achievement at the university level, though the influence is kind of context dependent and it changes depending on how resources are used and which learning approach is chosen. Universities are encouraged to lean on technology driven and competency based strategies, but also to reduce the possible negative effects, so they can optimize student learning results and overall educational growth across genders.