Bridging the Gap to Industry through Applied Skills Micro-Credentials - Six Sigma & DOEs
Open Access
- Author:
- Yin, Joyce
- Area of Honors:
- Chemical Engineering
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Monty Alger, Thesis Supervisor
Darrell Velegol, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Six Sigma
Design of Experiments
Micro-credential - Abstract:
- The gap between the academic and industrial worlds is complicated and presents challenges to both engineering students and companies looking to hire interns and new employees. With the job market’s emphasis on skills and experiences over degrees, candidates at universities must make adjustments to their efforts to meet these expectations. The Covid-19 Pandemic brought a rise in virtual learning and developing skills through micro-credentials or digital certifications. Micro-credentials provide a cost-efficient and convenient way for busy individuals to learn at their own pace. Certifications that focus on industry relevant skills provide students with an opportunity to become stronger candidates for career opportunities. One hypothesis is that the use of micro-credentials and other online learning modules can assist in narrowing the gap between academia and industry, as employers gain more skilled students upon hire, and students become more desirable in industry roles. Six Sigma and Design of Experiments (DOE) were selected as the focus topics of the micro-credential due to their relevance in the engineering workplace regardless of industry. This thesis involved the design and publication of a digitally accessible course specifically for chemical engineering students titled “Applied Six Sigma and Design of Experiments.” The course is currently available to all Penn State students and is recommended for those looking for industry positions. The purpose of the course is to establish a broad understanding of Six Sigma and skills to apply DOE to a variety of processes common to the chemical engineering field. The future of this work could involve partnering with companies to create a more formal program where incoming hires complete a series of certifications to become more prepared for the new role, called the “Career Discover Internship Program.”