STATE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY OF ARMENIA (POLYTECHNIC)

Analysis of students, alumni and employers survey results by specializing department "Fundamentals of Information Security", "System programming".

Analysis of the Survey Results

At the University main consumers of educational services or interested parties are students, alumni and employers. The study of opinions, evaluations and suggestions of consumers of educational services is the basis for the improvement and development of the educational process at the university in general and on a single specializing department in particular. Analysis of students, alumni and employers survey results allows not only to assess the satisfaction of interested parties in results of the departments work, but also to identify the main problematic factors for the further development of activities aimed at improving the quality of the educational work of the department. The survey of employers allows concluding that in general they were satisfied with alumni of the department. In this case same high level of satisfaction of employers in almost all evaluation criteria (7.4 - 8.4) and the absence of clearly defined peaks on the integrated satisfaction ratings graph, allows concluding on a stable and balanced work of the department. However, there is some dissatisfaction with the theoretical (21%) and practical (15%) preparedness of alumni, as well as their entrepreneurial skills (18%). From this it follows the need for further development of curricula and subject programs with the involvement of advanced knowledge and develops the most demanded skills. There exists a definite dissatisfaction (18%) by the alumnis possession level of technical foreign languages, which strengthens our conviction about the need to teach some special subjects in both Russian and English languages. Analysis of the proposed in the survey recommendations allows to conclude that an effective means of improving the quality of the educational process and hence the degree of satisfaction of employers may be improving the teaching staff by bringing in the best-trained and experienced staff of employers, as well as the creation of basic chairs at the largest and most relevant of them. Very similar results have shown by the survey of alumni who received bachelors and masters degrees at the department. The exception is the high degree of dissatisfaction (79%) of masters with obtained practical skills. This is due to their greater awareness of information and certain experience of practical work, as well as the lack of a sufficient number of well-equipped industry aimed laboratories at the department. Besides, this fact may be the result of not sufficient practical and laboratory classes, especially in the master's level curriculum. Highlights significantly higher, on alignment with employers (18%), dissatisfaction with the possession level of technical foreign languages expressed by bachelors (52%) and masters (42%), which not only emphasizes the need to teach some special subjects in both Russian and English languages, but also high interest (readiness) of students to participate in such studies. Master's level alumni expressed dissatisfaction (36%) by the general subject block level of provision with qualified teaching staff. This fact dictates the need for a
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Analysis of the Survey Results

radical revision of general block subject programs, especially in the master's level, with a significant expansion of focus on a specific professional activity. Not successful is the situation with industrial practices. A large number of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the choice of bachelor's practice facilities (31%) and that their profiles do not correspond to the topics of future graduate works (44%). Based on this we can conclude on the need to change the principles of practice conduction to improve their effectiveness and attractiveness to students. In particular, it seems appropriate to create at the department research laboratories with the participation of employers and a broad involvement of students in their activities, including in the framework of industrial practices. The provision level of the departments laboratories with modern equipment is not satisfactory for both bachelors (38%) and masters (50%). This is probably one of the most important and complex issues of quality assurance, which may not be fully resolved by the means of department, and even university itself. To solve this problem, the involvement and possible sponsorship of employers is necessary. At first glance alarming is the very low level of the employed in the specialty for master's (36%) and especially the bachelors (7%). However, these data cannot be considered typical, since the survey was conducted immediately after the graduation works defense and many of them have not yet managed to get a job. To obtain more objective results would be useful to develop a methodology and tools to survey of different years alumni. In addition these tools can highlight trends in the degree of alumni satisfaction which in turn will allow tracing the dynamics of improving the quality of educational processes at the department, and developing a sound policy for further action. For a survey of student satisfaction with respect to the individual modules (subjects) were randomly chosen in one subject for bachelors degree and one for master's degree in specialty Software Engineering. It was the subject System Programming for a bachelor's degree and the subject Fundamentals of Information Security for a master's degree. It should be noted that the second subject is not specific to this specialty and in this sense, a random selection was unfortunately not the most revealing. Survey of bachelor level students on the subject "System programming" allows concluding that in general they are satisfied with the work of the department. In this case same high level of student satisfaction in almost all evaluation criteria (8.8 -11.9) and the absence clearly defined peaks on the integrated satisfaction ratings graph, allows to conclude that the teaching of the subject at the department is at a stable and high level. This is completely expected result. Moreover we can assume that for the rest of the special subjects can be obtained similar results. Students expressed some dissatisfaction with the fact that not enough practical classes and a large number of students in the groups, which also is an expected result. To further enhance of the special subjects teaching quality taking into account specificity of the specialty should be considered the possibility of reducing the number of students in groups by increasing the number of groups. Also can be useful to increase
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Analysis of the Survey Results

the number practical classes for the special subjects at the expense of a partial reduction for some non special subjects. Survey of master's level students on the subject "Fundamentals of Information Security" found a natural divergence from the results of the previous survey, which is determined by the fact that this is not a special subject for this specialty. However, it can be allocated a certain dissatisfaction that can be expected at the masters level for special subjects as well. This is particularly dissatisfaction with the available adequate library resources and provided computer support facilities. Specified dissatisfaction is most likely due to more natural professional skills and awareness of master's level students compared with bachelor's level students.

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Analysis of the Survey Results

1. Content of the program allows you to acquire enough knowledge to be engaged in professional activities. 2. Content of the program allows you to acquire enough knowledge to be engaged in professional activities. 3. The program and teaching methods allowed to acquire enough practical skills. 4. The program and teaching methods allowed to develop skills for formulating and solving technical problems. 5. The program and teaching methods allowed to develop managerial skills. 6. The program and teaching methods allowed to obtain enough skills to use computers and applied programs. 7. The program and teaching methods allowed to obtain foreign language skills enough for professional activities. 8. The basic Natural Science courses (Mathematics, Physics, Informatics and Graphic Arts) were taugh by highly qualified lecturers. 9. The General Engineering courses were taugh by highly qualified lecturers. 10. 11. The specialty courses were taugh by highly qualified lecturers. Students knowledge has been evaluated objectively.

12. The internship allowed to improve the professional knowledge and to obtain practical skills.
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Analysis of the Survey Results

13. Laboratories/specialized auditoriums were equiped with modern facilities. 14. The program had appropriate methodological materials and necessary resources.

1. Graduates theoretical knowledge corresponds to the job requirements. 2. Graduates demonstrate practical skills. 3. Graduates are able to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems. 4. Graduates are capable of solving management problems. 5. Graduates have enough knowledge of computer technology and applied programs. 6. Graduates have enough foreign languages skills in the professional field. 7. Graduates have necessary record keeping skills in Armenian (preparing documents and texts, etc.). 8. Graduates prove to have a creative approach in their professional activities. 9. Graduates have satisfactory business skills. 10. Graduates have skills in cooperation with colleagues and teamwork.

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Analysis of the Survey Results

THE RESULTS OF GRADUATES SURVEYS

BACHELORS DEGREE PROGRAM MASTERS DEGREE PROGRAM

1. Content of the program allows you to acquire enough knowledge to be engaged in professional activities 2. The program and teaching methods allowed to acquire enough practical skills 3. The program and teaching methods allowed to develop skills for formulating and solving technical problems 4. The program and teaching methods allowed to develop managerial skills 5. The program and teaching methods allowed to obtain enough skills to use computers and applied programs 6. The program and teaching methods allowed to obtain foreign language skills enough for professional activities
7. The General Engineering courses were taught by highly qualified lecturers 8. The specialty courses were taught by highly qualified lecturers 9. Students knowledge has been evaluated objectively

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Analysis of the Survey Results

10. The internship allowed to improve the professional knowledge and to obtain practical skills 11. Profile internships corresponds profession
12. Laboratories/specialized auditoriums were equiped with modern facilities 13. The program had appropriate methodological materials and necessary

resources

THE RESULTS OF EMPLOYERS SURVEY

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Analysis of the Survey Results

Summarizing it can be noted that the educational process at the department is organized and implemented at a high enough level. However naturally to increase the satisfaction level of students, alumni, and employers need to further improve all
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Analysis of the Survey Results

components of the educational process. Here is the most important early solution of the above issues, taking into account the views of all categories of respondents. The study of consumer satisfaction of educational services should be organized regularly in the monitoring mode with based on the experience previous studies. This may allow monitoring the dynamics of changes in opinions and evaluations of students, graduates and employers on the quality of education of future specialists and their adaptation to the labor market.

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