The Perception of Electronics Technology Teachers and Employers of Electronics Technology Graduates Regarding Competencies Needed by Program Completers.

An examination of professional literature revealed a prevalent opinion that a gap exists between what is being taught in electronic programs and what is needed by employers of the electronic industry. Close cooperation between education and industry will be necessary if schools are to keep pace with advancing technology. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in perception existed between electronic teachers and employers regarding competencies needed by graduates of nonaccredited four-year industrial technology programs. The first step was to identify competencies which should be taught in electronic technology programs. Five competency lists developed by previous researchers were reviewed by this study and synthesized into one competency list. A four-member panel of electronic teachers was selected to evaluate the synthesized list. The final synthesized competency list consisted of 104 statements which was used in the study. A Likert format questionnaire was chosen as the instrument for the study. The survey instrument was constructed by listing the 104 competency statements under 10 electronic course headings. Each competency statement was followed by a response section intended to measure importance as determined by electronic teachers and employers of electronic technology students. The sample was collected in the states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. A survey instrument was sent to 27 educational institutions in the defined area that offered ITET programs. The 21 who responded produced a return rate of 78 percent. The same survey instrument was sent to 60 electronic employers. The 45 who responded produced a return rate of 75 percent. The collected data were analyzed by computer to determine the number and percentage of responses to each question on the questionnaire. The results of the study were presented in tabular form. A t-test for independent means was applied to the data to determine whether or not there was a significant difference in perception between electronic teachers and employers of electronic graduates regarding the competencies needed to training ITET's in industry. There were significant differences in perception between electronic teachers and employers of electronic graduates on six competencies regarding competencies needed to training ITET's for industry. It is essential that schools keep abreast of changing requirements of industry if program completers are to be productive members of the work force. Close cooperation between education and industry will be necessary if schools are to keep pace with advancing technology.