A Multicultural Comparison of Engineering Students: Implications to Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Problem statement: Personality considerations have become increasingly important in recent years, but studies involving the personality characteristics of engineers have been scarcely reported. Engineers today are expected to have a broader range of skills than in the recent past because users are now equally concerned with the technical as well as the personal services provided by engineers. Approach: A multicultural personality profile of engineering students had been presented in this study. The MBTI was used as an instrument to sort personality types of engineering students at both King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia and University of Western Ontario in Canada. Results: The study had discussed the differences and similarities in the personality profile of Saudi and Canadian engineering students and its implications for engineering education in the light of the MBTI dimensions. Although there had been some teaching strategies useful to a whole class, the personality differences among engineering students made it necessary for instructors to diversify those teaching strategies. Conclusion/Recommendations: Adjusting instruction to accommodate the learning styles of different types of students had increased both achievement and enjoyment of learning. Hence, this study had improved the degree of understanding among teachers and engineering students.