Student Perspectives: A Longitudinal Study

After gathering engineering students' opinions of their course over a four-year period (1997 - 2000), we are in a position to look at the similarities and differences between cohorts of entering students, as well as the changes which have occurred over a number of years, in the 1997, 98, 99 and 2000 cohorts of students. We have also pursued the importance of site visits to engineering students' understandings and enjoyment of their course, and have invited students to comment openly on the vocational aspects of their courses. In addition, the survey of 2000 probes students' understandings and suggestions about the often-quoted concept of 'real-world engineering'. We contemplate whether this focus is related to the growing maturity of the students, a phenomenon that is consistent with the characteristics of andragogic rather than pedagogic principles.