Abstract:

While the problem of the global chip shortage is slowly subsiding, semiconductor companies are facing a major problem due to the shortage of electronics engineers. There is a need for electronics engineers to design, fabricate and test computer chips. It is also estimated that there is a need for over seven thousands electrical engineers to replace the retiring workforce. Enrollments are either declining or growing at a slow pace for electrical and manufacturing engineering majors. For instance, we see very low enrollment in UTRGV manufacturing engineering and slow enrollment growth in electrical and computer engineering.

In order for developed countries to remain competitive in engineering and technology, they must produce and retain a higher number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) talent. However, according to report published by the U.S. President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), the STEM proportion of all university undergraduate degrees has been decreasing in the United States in the last decade. In order to meet the projected economic needs for STEM professionals, the number of students graduating with STEM degrees in the United States will need to increase by about 34% annually.

Currently, semiconductor companies are facing a major problem due to the shortage of electronics engineers. This problem hinders the growth of the semiconductor industry. There is a need for electronics engineers to design, fabricate and test computer chips. For instance, Samsung is planning to build a $17 billion chip plant in Texas, which is the largest investment the company has ever made in the U.S. The plant is expected to open in 2024 and will need to fill over 2,000 high-tech positions. To address the manufacturing technical challenges and workforce shortages, Intel has announced that it has committed $100 million investment to support semiconductor manufacturing education and research across the U.S. It is estimated that 45% of engineers working in U.S. electrical utilities will be retiring in the next five years. This translates to over 7,000 electric power engineers that will be needed in the U.S. electric utility industries.

The process of choosing engineering as a major in college can be very convoluted. Based on our prior experience conducting STEM professional development programs for teachers, we know that teachers influence student learning and interest in a STEM subject.

In this paper, we review and survey studies that investigate the factors that influence teachers’ perceptions of engineering education and careers. Our survey study examines the extent to which teachers can influence their students to pursue an engineering major.

Keywords:

Engineering education, teachers’ perceptions, electronics engineers, electrical engineering.