Analysis of Integrated Project Effectiveness in the Implementation of Generic Skills

Abstract Department of Chemical and Process Engineering (JKKP), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia has taken an initiative to implement an Integrated Project (IP) for Year II and III since the 2006/2007 session. This project combines three or four department offered compulsory courses each semester. Integrated project delivered to students is chemical/biochemical engineering problems with open solutions. This approach allows the application of generic skills of students such as leadership, work in teams, communicate orally and in writing and learn to find the current information through a process of lifelong learning. Student achievement in completing the Integrated Project has been measured and assessed through presentations and reports. This study was performed to measure the effectiveness of the Integrated Project implemented after four years in JKKP. Therefore, a questionnaire was distributed to the first batch of students who have been through fully integrated project while studying at JKKP, in a graduate friendly event at the end of their study. Analysis results of the effectiveness of the Integrated Project show that it has improved the confidence level in generic skills such as oral and written communication, teamwork, lifelong learning and the identification of current issues in students since it was firstly introduced in session 2006/2007. Positive feedback is also obtained from the students and they felt that Integrated Project should be continued in the future because it really helps them in completing design projects in the final year of their studies.