Education for Enhancing the Abilities of Engineers: A Survey Conducted in Japan and Its Analyses

Abstract

While the study of science subjects at school is essential for the development of science and technology in society, it is a recognized fact that a large number of students show reluctance to study science and mathematics. Thus, it is of great significance to deliberate on ways to increase their interest in science subjects and enhance effectiveness of learning. We conducted a survey of researchers and engineers who exercise their scientific abilities in their work, asking about their experiences in science education and learning from elementary school to university. We then examined the relationship between their learning experiences and their abilities as researchers and engineers, and analysed the factors that would enhance students’ interest in science subjects and motivation to study these subjects. The results of our analysis show that “getting interested in science during the early years of elementary school,” “being able to understand the science lessons,” “amazing experience in science class,” “association of science learning with daily life,” “finding the talks in class interesting,” and “approachability to science learning,” have a positive effect on science learning and is crucial to improving professional capacity.