2013 Final Year Engineering Student Survey - National Report Conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Engineers Canada

1. 2013 Final Year Engineering Student Survey - National ReportConducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Engineers Canada April 2013

2. Table of Contents Research Objectives 3 Methodology 4 Executive Summary 6 Future Plans 10 Intention to Apply for Licensure 19 Licensing Knowledge 30 Knowledge of Association of Professional Engineers 36 Knowledge of Professional Engineers Act 39 Demographics 42 Additional Analysis: Impact on Intention to Pursue Attendance at Workshop/Seminar 46 Knowledge of PEA 49 Knowledge of Licensing and Roles 52 Knowledge of Organizational Responsibility 55

3. Research Objectives The primary objective of this research is to understand the reasons why graduates of CEAB accredited engineering programs at Canadian universities do or do not intend to apply for their licence.  In order to achieve this objective, the research seeks to understand the following: • The future career and/or education plans of final year engineering students; • The percentage of final year engineering students who intend to pursue a career in Engineering and the percentage who intend to apply for their P.Eng licence; • Final year engineering students’ level of knowledge of the Professional Engineers Act of their province.

4. Methodology The online survey was conducted between January 18 to March 15, 2013 with final year engineering students. All university Faculties of Engineering with CEAB accredited programs were invited to participate in the study and were asked to send the online survey to all final year engineering students registered in their Engineering program. The link to the online survey was sent to the universities starting January 18 (for Ontario universities) with a second set of links distributed January 24, 2013 (for all other schools). Each university was requested to send the survey link to all qualified students on either January 19, 2013 (Ontario) or January 25, 2013 (all other schools). The survey was offered in both English and French. A total of 34 universities participated in the research and 2,501 students completed the survey. The margin of error for this study on the overall data (n=2,501) is ± 2.0%, 19 times out of 20.

5. Methodology (cont’d) The following table outlines the number of completed interviews per participating region. The figures below represent final year engineering students registered in an engineering program in that given region.

6. Executive Summary Future Intentions: Continuing Education Versus Entering Workforce • Eight in ten (78%) final year engineering students say they intend to go into the workforce after graduating with their bachelors degree in Engineering. • Nearly two in ten (16%) students intend to pursue more education. Of this group, the vast majority intend to get their graduate degree in Engineering (70%), while around one in ten plan to pursue an MBA (9%), another professional degree (8%) or a graduate degree in another area (7%). • Among those students who plan to pursue more education, four in ten intend to study in Ontario (41%), followed by three in ten who plan to go to Quebec (27%) and just over one in ten who think they will go outside of Canada (13%). Future Intentions: Engineering Career • Fully ninety-five percent (95%) of students say they are likely to pursue a career in engineering, two-thirds definitely will (65%) while three in ten probably will (30%). • Only five percent of student probably (4%) –or- definitely (1%) will not pursue a career in engineering. The top reasons are that engineering is not what they thought it would be (27%), that there are better employment opportunities elsewhere (20%) or that they never intended to pursue a career in engineering (16%). • At nine in ten (92%), the vast majority of students say that when they began their studies they planned to practice engineering upon completion of their program. Six in ten students began their undergraduate studies with a definite intention to pursue an engineering career (62%), while three in ten said it was likely (30%).

7. Executive Summary (continued) Future Intentions: Engineering Career (continued) • Over nine in ten students who started their degree with the goal of a career in the engineering field say they were definitely (64%) or likely (29%) to pursue a career in the engineering field after graduation. Fewer than one in ten (7%) have changed their mind and say they plan to pursue an alternate career. • Further, of those who do not intend to pursue a career in the engineering field, two-thirds say they were definitely (26%) or likely (39%) to pursue a career in engineering when they began their studies. One-third (35%) say that was never their intention. Future Intentions: Pursue Licensure • Over half of all students (55%) indicate that they definitely intend to apply for licensure, while a further three in ten (28%) say they probably will. One in ten probably/ definitely won’t apply (11%) or don’t know (7%) • Of those students who specifically plan to pursue an engineering career, 57% indicate they definitely will and 28% probably will pursue their licence. • Of those who do not intend to immediately pursue their licence, nearly half indicate that they probably or definitely will apply for licensure sometime down the road (46%), while slightly fewer do not foresee themselves applying in the future (44%). • The most cited reasons for not everpursuing their licence is a lack of interest in a career in engineering (31%) or that it is not necessary for their career plans (27%). • One-third (33%) of students who do not intend to pursue their licence change their mind once they are told that the licence is required to practice as a professional engineer.

8. Executive Summary (continued) Future Intentions: Pursue Licensure (continued) • Of those who intend to pursue their licence, six in ten students plan to do so within one year (61%), of which four in ten will do so wihtin six months (44%). Two in ten plan to apply after a year (20%) or remain undecided (19%). • Among those students who plan to wait at least a year to apply for licensure or are unsure, the vast majority (87%) cite the desire to get more required work experience before applying for licensure. • Upon learning that the fee for the first year of the Engineering-in-Training [EIT] program can be waived if they apply within six months of graduation, fully nine-in-ten (90%) say they are at least likely to apply within 6 months. Knowledge of Engineering Profession • The vast majority of students (84%) know that engineering is regulated by legislation. One in ten students are unsure (10%), while slightly fewer believe the profession is not regulated (6%). • Students’ knowledge of the Professional Engineers Act of their respective province is varied, three in ten students (30%) have a fair amount of knowledge, while exactly half (50%) say they know just a little and just 2% know a lot. Three percent (3%) say they have never heard of the Act. • Over eight in ten students know that a licence is required to perform engineering work independently (85%), while three-quarters are correct that a licence is required to use the title ‘Engineer’ (75%) or that it is not required to practice engineering work under the supervision of a P.Eng (73%).

9. Executive Summary (continued) Knowledge of Engineering Profession (continued) • Close to nine in ten students are able to correctly identify that their respective provincial engineering association is responsible for licensing engineers (89%) and that it also regulates the practice of professional engineers (80%). Comparatively, seven in ten students knew that CEAB is the organization that accredits University engineering programs (70%). • Students are split however on which organization licenses companies offering engineering services, half believe it is the respective provincial engineering association (50%), while one-third think it is CEAB (33%) and one quarter simply don’t know (26%).

10. Future Plans

11. Plans After Graduation • At eight in ten, the vast majority of students intend on going into the workforce after graduation, while just shy of two in ten plan to pursue more education. • Among those who plan to further their education, the majority plan to pursue a graduate degree in engineering, while around one in ten plan to pursue an MBA, another professional degree or a graduate degree in another area. Current Plans After Graduation Educational Intentions Q12. Which of the following best describes your current plans after you graduate? Base: All respondents 2013 (n=2501). Q13. Which of the following best describes the education you plan to pursue? Base: respondents who said “more education” in Q12, 2013 (n=398).

12. Location of Anticipated Graduate Education • Among those students who plan to pursue more education, four in ten intend to study in Ontario, followed by three in ten who plan to go to Quebec and just over one in ten who think they will go outside of Canada. Location of Graduate Intentions Q13B. Where do you plan to pursue graduate education? Base: Pursue more education after graduation - 2013 (n=398)

13. Intention to Pursue Engineering Career • Virtually all students intend on pursuing a career in the engineering field after completing their education. Do You Plan to Pursue a Career in the Engineering Field? Yes(Top 2 Box) 95%(n=2366) No(Low 2 Box) 5%(n=135) Q14. When you complete your education, do you plan to pursue a career in the engineering field? Base: All respondents 2013 (n=2501)

14. Reasons for Not Pursuing Engineering • The top reason for not pursuing a career in engineering is that engineering is not what they thought it would be. Other common mentions include that there are better employment opportunities elsewhere, that they never intended to pursue a career in engineering and that there are opportunities to earn more money elsewhere. Reasons for Not Pursuing Engineering Q16. What is the primary reason you decided to pursue a career outside of Engineering? Base: Respondents who said No (definitely /probably) in Q14 2013 n=135;

15. Intended Career Outside of Engineering Intended Career Outside of Engineering(Does Not Plan to Pursue Engineering Career) Includes a wide range of mentions including: IT, Military, Law, Aviation, Education, etc. Q17. What type of career do you plan to pursue? Base: Respondents who said No (definitely /probably) in Q14,2013 (n=135) Mentions may add to more than 100% as respondents were able to provide more than one response Among those who do not intend to pursue a career in Engineering, consulting, medicine and business represent the top career options.

16. Career Plans When Studies Commenced Did You Plan to Practice Engineering When You Began Your Studies? Yes(Top 2 Box) 92%(n=2297) No(Low 2 Box) 8%(n=204) Q18. When you began your studies, did you plan to practice engineering when you completed your program? Base: All respondents 2013 (n=2501) At nine in ten, the vast majority of students say that when they began their studies they planned to practice engineering upon completion of their program.

17. Current and Prior Career Intentions (among students who intend to pursue a career in engineering) Yes(Top 2 Box) 93%(n=2209) No(Low 2 Box) 7%(n=157) Q18. When you began your studies, did you plan to practice engineering when you completed your program? Base: Students who intend to pursue a career in engineering 2013 (n=2366) Over nine in ten students who began their studies with the intention of pursuing a career in engineering say they were definitely or likely to pursue a career in the engineering field after graduation.

18. Current and Prior Career Intentions (among students who do not intend to pursue a career in engineering) Yes(Top 2 Box) No(Low 2 Box) 65%(n=88) 23 35%(n=47) 23 Q18. When you began your studies, did you plan to practice engineering when you completed your program? Base:Students who did not intend to pursue a career in engineering 2013 (n=135) Of those who did not intend to pursue a career in the engineering field when they began their studies, two-thirds say they were definitely likely to pursue a career in engineering, while one-third say that was not their intention.

19. Application Intentions for Professional Engineering Licensure

20. Intention to Apply for Licensure Do You Intend To Apply for Licensure? Yes(Top 2 Box) 82%(n=2061) No(Low 2 Box) 11%(n=268) Q21. Do you intend to apply for licensure as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.)? Base: All respondents 2013 (n=2501) Over half of students (55%) indicate that they definitely intend to apply for licensure, while a further three in ten (28%) say they probably will. One in ten probably/ definitely won’t apply (11%) or don’t know (7%)

21. Intention to Apply for Licensure- Pursuing Engineering Career Do You Intend To Apply for Licensure? Yes(Top 2 Box) 85%(n=2013) No(Low 2 Box) 8%(n=201) Q21. Do you intend to apply for licensure as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.)? Base: Respondents who intend to pursue a career in the engineering field 2013 (n=2366) Among those students who intend to pursue a career in engineering, nearly six in ten students (57%) indicate that they definitely intend to apply for licensure, while a further three in ten (28%) say they probably will. Less than one in ten probably/ definitely won’t apply (8%) or don’t know (6%)

22. Foresee Applying in Future P.Eng. • Of those students who do not plan on applying for licensure, nearly half indicate that they probably or definitely will apply for licensure sometime down the road (46%), while just over four in ten say they do not foresee themselves applying in the future (44%). Do You Ever Foresee Yourself Applying for Licensure? No(Low 2 Box) 44%(n=118) Yes(Top 2 Box) 46%(n=122) Q22. Do you ever foresee yourself applying for licensure as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.)? Base: Respondents who said ‘no’ in Q21 2013 (n=268)

23. Reasons for Not Applying for Licensure Why do you not intend to pursue the P.Eng. Licence? Q23. Why do you not intend to apply for licensure as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng)? Base: Respondents who do not ever foresee themselves applying for licensure, 2013 (n=118). Among this same group of students, the most cited reasons for not everpursuing their licence is a lack of interest in a career in engineering or that it is not necessary for their career plans. Other common mentions include plans to pursue a career in software, that licensure would not benefit their career, plans to work outside the country or to pursue another career path.

24. Interest Once Told P.Eng. Licence is Required to Practice • Once told that a licence is required to legally refer to yourself as an engineer and practice as an engineer, one-third (33%) of students who originally did not plan or were unsure of their intentions now indicate they are definitely or probably likely to apply for licensure. Comparatively, close to four in ten (38%) still indicate that they do not intend to apply while three in ten (29%) are unsure. Given that a Licence is Required to Practice Engineering, Do You Intend to Apply? No(Low 2 Box) Yes(Top 2 Box) 38%(n=121) 33%(n=105) Q24. Since a license is required to legally refer to yourself as an engineer, or to practice as an engineer, do you plan to apply for your P.Eng. licence? Base: Respondents who do not intend to apply for licensure or are not sure, 2013 (n=318)

25. Application Timeframe • Six in ten students who intend to apply for licensure plan to do so within one year (61%), while two in ten plan to apply after a year (20%) or remain undecided (19%). When Do You Plan to Apply for Licensure? Apply Within 1 Year(Top 2 Box) 61%(n=1391) Q27. Do you intend to apply for licensure...? Base: Respondents who plan to apply for licensure, 2013 (n=2288)

26. Reasons for Waiting to Apply • Among those students who plan to wait at least a year to apply for licensure or are unsure, the most common reason is the desire for required work experience. Why Do You Plan to Wait More Than a Year to Apply? Q28. Why do you intend to wait more than a year to apply for the P.Eng.? Base: Respondents who said >1yr or don’t know/unsure in Q27, 2013 (n=897) Mentions <2% are not shown

27. Impact of Waiving EIT Fees on Likelihood to Apply within Six Months • Upon learning that they could be eligible to have their first year EIT fees waived, close to six in ten (58%) students who intend to apply for licensure more than a year after graduation say that they are very likely to apply within six months. One-third (32%), meanwhile, are somewhat likely to apply within six months. Very few (6%) indicate they are unlikely to apply. (n=81) Would you Apply Within 6 Month if Eligible to Have 1st Year EIT Fees Waived? Likely(Top 2 Box) 90%(n=1166) x Unlikely(Low 2 Box) 6%(n=76) x Q29. If you knew that by applying for licensure within 6 months of graduation you are eligible to have the application and first year EIT program fees waived, how likely would you be to apply for licensure within that time frame? Base: Respondents who do not know or intend to apply for licensure >6 months after graduation, 2013 (n=1290)

28. Intended Country of Application • Virtually all final year engineering students (99%) who intend to apply for licensure plan to apply in Canada. Two-in-ten (18%) also plan to apply in the US while fewer (12%) plan to apply abroad. Where Do You Intend to Apply for Licensure? 13%(n=288) Abroad Mentions may add to more than 100% as respondents were able to select more than one response Q25. Where do you intend to apply for licensure? Base: Respondents who ever plan to apply for licensure, 2013 (n=2288)

29. Province of Intended Licensure • Of those students who plan to apply for licensure, exactly half plan to apply in Ontario, followed by three in ten who intend to apply in Quebec or Alberta and two in ten who indicate British Columbia. Fewer than one in ten intend to apply in each of the remaining provinces/ territories. Q26. Please select the provinces and/or territories in which you intend on applying for licensure. Base: Respondents who plan to apply for licensure in Canada, 2013 (n=2260)

30. Licensing Knowledge

31. Engineering Regulated by Legislation • At slightly more than eight in ten (84%), the vast majority of students know that engineering is regulated by legislation. One in ten students are unsure (10%), while fewer believe the profession is not regulated (6%). Is the Practice of Engineering Regulated by Legislation? Q5. As far as you know, is the practice of professional engineering regulated by legislation? Base: All Respondents 2013 (n=2501)

32. Licensing for Roles within Engineering Is a Licence Required Before Being Able to Do the Following? Q8. As far as you know, is a licence required before being able to do the following in ... Base: All respondents 2013 (n=2501) Over eight in ten students know that a licence is required to perform engineering work independently (85%), while three-quarters are correct that a licence is required to use the title ‘Engineer’ (75%) or that it is not required to practice engineering work under the supervision of a P.Eng.

33. Knowledge of Licensing and Roles • The vast majority of final year engineering students have a moderate (42%) or high (47%) level of knowledge of when a licence is required to legally perform actions/ duties within the engineering profession. Comparatively, one in ten have either little (8%) or no knowledge (3%) on the subject. *Knowledge Levels DefinedHigh: All Correct (3) in Q8Moderate: 2 Correct in Q8Low: 1 Correct in Q8None: Zero (0) Correct in Q8 Knowledge Level of Engineering Practices Requiring a Licence High/Moderate(Top 2 Box) 88%(n=2229) x Little/None(Low 2 Box) 11%(n=275) x Q8. As far as you know, is a licence required before being able to do the following in .. Base: All respondents 2013 n=(2501)

34. Which Organization is Responsible for Each of the Follow Activities? (n=79) Organizational Responsibilities Q9. Please indicate the organization responsible for each of the activities/ procedures listed below. Base: All respondents 2013, (n=2501) The vast majority of students are able to correctly identify that the respective provincial engineering association is the organization responsible for licensing engineers (89%) and that it also regulates the practice of professional engineers (80%). Comparatively, seven in ten students knew that CEAB is the organization that accredits University engineering programs (70%). Students are split however on which organization licenses companies offering engineering services, half believe it is the respective provincial engineering association (50%), while one-third think it is CEAB (33%) and one quarter simply don’t know (26%).

35. Knowledge of Organizational Responsibility • A strong majority of students have either a high (33%) or moderate (56%) level of knowledge concerning organizational responsibilities of activities/ procedures relating to the engineering profession. One in ten have either low (6%) or no knowledge (5%) on the subject. Knowledge Level of Organizational Responsibility within the Engineering Profession Knowledge Levels Defined - 2013 High: All Correct in Q9 (4)Moderate: 2 or 3 Correct in Q9Low: 1 Correct in Q9None: All Incorrect (0) in Q9 High/ Moderate(Top 2 Box) 89%(n=2243) x Little/ None(Low 2 Box) 11%(n=261) x Q9. Please indicate the organization responsible for each of the activities/ procedures listed below. Base: All respondents 2013 n=2501

36. Provincial Engineering Association

37. Attendance of provincial engineering association Seminar • Nearly four in ten (36%) students report having ever attended a seminar or workshop given by a provincial engineering association representative. Ever Attend a Provincial Engineering Association Seminar? Q11. Have you ever attended a workshop/ seminar/ talk given by a provincial engineering associationrepresentative? Base: All respondents 2013 (n=2501)

38. Association with provincial engineering association’s SMP • A majority of students (66%) are aware of provincial engineering association Student Membership Programs (SMP). Of which, nearly four in ten are currently a member (36%), two in ten have heard of it and are interested in becoming a member (21%), while one in ten have heard of it but are not interested (9%). Aware(Top 3 Box) 66%(n=1667) Q32. Which of the following best describes your association with the [provincial engineering association]’s Student Membership Program (SMP)? Base: All respondents 2013 (n=2501)

39. Professional Engineers Act

40. Professional Engineers Act • The vast majority of students report being familiar with the Professional Engineers Act of their respective province. Three in ten students (30%) report having a fair amount of knowledge about the Professional Engineers Act, exactly half (50%) say they know just a little while very few know a lot (2%). Only 3% say they have never heard of the Act. How Much Do You Know About the Professional Engineers Act ? Familiar(Top 3 Box) 83%(n=2065) x Q6. The practice of engineering is regulated by the Professional Engineers Act of [respective province]. Which of the following best describes how much you know about the Professional Engineers Act of ? Base: All respondents 2013 (n=2501)

41. 70% (n=1495) Professional Engineers Act • Most students heard about the Professional Engineers Act of their province through a university law and ethics course (38%) or a university professor or administrator (35%). Where Did You First Hear About the Professional Engineers Act ? University prof or course Mentions <5% are not shown Q7. Where did you first hear about the Professional Engineers Act of [respective province]? Base: Respondents who know about the Act 2013 (n=2065)

42. Demographics

43. Inspiration for Pursuing Engineering • Slightly less than half of students felt a particular individual inspired them to enter engineering specifically. Of those who were inspired, half cite a parent as that individual who motivated them while three in ten mention another family member or a teacher and two in ten say a friend/ acquaintance. In terms of gender, the vast majority indicate that it was a male who inspired them. (n=1095) (n=1406) Mentions <5% are not shown Q33B. Thinking back to before you began your current undergraduate program, would you say there was a particular individual(s) or role model(s) who inspired you to study engineering specifically? Base: All respondents, 2013 n=2501. Q33C. What was your relation to this person(s)? Base: Respondents who were inspired by someone to pursue engineering. 2013 n=1095. Q33D. Please indicate the gender of each individual you selected. Base: Respondents who were inspired by someone to pursue engineering.

44. Permanent Residency • The vast majority (86%) of final year engineering students are permanent residents of that province. Of those who are attending school in a given province but are a permanent resident of another province, just over half are from Western Canada- Alberta (29%) or British Columbia (25%). Resident of Another Province/Territory: Mentions <2% are not shown Q34. For statistical purposes, we would like to know the location of your permanent residence. Please select the statement that most appropriately describes your current residency status: ? Base: All respondents, 2013 n=2501; Q35. You indicated that you are attending university in but are a permanent resident of another province/territory. Please select the province or territory in which you are a permanent resident. Base: Respondents who are not permanent residents of , 2013 n=195;

45. Engineering Disciplines • The most popular disciplines are mechanical engineering (22%), followed by civil engineering (18%) and electrical engineering (15%). Mentions <3% are not shown Q3/Q3B. Please indicate the engineering discipline in which you are currently studying by selecting one of the following options. Base: All respondents, 2013 n=2501

46. Impact of Provincial Engineering Association Seminar/ Workshop Attendance

47. Workshop/Seminar Attendance & Intention to Pursue Engineering Career Intentions to Pursue Career within the Engineering Field At the overall level, intentions to pursue a career within the Engineering field are the same regardless if a student has attended a workshop/seminar. However, those who have attended a workshop/seminar are more likely to be definitely likely to pursue a career in engineering.

48. Workshop/Seminar Attendance & Intention to Apply for Licensure Intention to Apply for the Professional Engineers Licensure Students who say they have attended a workshop/ seminar are significantly more likely to say they intend to apply for their P.Eng. Licence, led by a larger proportion who definitely will apply.

49. Impact of Knowledge of the Professional EngineersAct

50. Knowledge of Professional Engineers Act& Intention to Pursue Engineering Career • While there is no significant difference at the overall level, those who have knowledge of the Professional Engineers Act of , either a lot/fair amount or just a little, are significantly more likely to indicate a definite intention to pursue a career in engineering. Intentions to Pursue Career within the Engineering Field