Student Engineering Enrichment from Design to Execution

In today's globalized and rapidly changing work environment, engineering graduates need technical and professional skills to improve their chances of finding a suitable career. In the Gulf region, in particular, due to rapid socio-political transformation and industrialization, engineering graduates must overcome a wider employability gap and compete with an experienced foreign workforce even for entry-level positions. This has necessitated out-of-the-box thinking on part of engineering institutions to bridge the gap by providing students with enrichment opportunities. In fact, emphasis on core competencies and experiential learning are playing a central role in higher education globally and can have a powerful impact on students' experience, development, and achievements before graduation. The Center for Teaching and Learning at the Qatar branch campus of Texas A&M University initiated the Student Engineering Enrichment (SEE) program in 2017. The program aimed to bridge the skills gaps between academic content and industry-required skills by providing co-curricular offerings to undergraduate and graduate students. The program is designed to provide competencies and skills beyond the engineering curriculum outside the regular classroom setting, emphasizing on experiential learning and essential skills needed by the industry. The nascent co-curricular program provides trainings and short courses that help students to develop unique skills, which can distinguish them from other engineers in the competitive world. These offerings prepare them for the job market. The SEE has three different components by which the core services are distributed. First, Management and Leadership, by complementing their engineering knowledge with the necessary professional and managerial skills. Second, Emerging Technologies by embedding practical technical knowledge with an essential bundle of global competencies. Third, Innovation and Entrepreneurship by fostering global mindsets and hands-on opportunities. Collaboration with industry and educational institutions, recognized credentials, internationally certified courses, competitions, hackathons, one-on-one consultation, and collaborative workspaces are all integral parts of the initiative. In this work-in-progress paper and poster, we present the design paradigm of the student program, and elaborate on its execution and key success factors, specifically how this program provides a rich experience and help students to overcome knowledge gaps. We also exhibit how this initiative fosters a comprehensive interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary context, diversity, and distinctive student engagement practices.