Employability Skills Framework for Mechanical Engineering

Industrial Revolution 4.0 is an age of digitalization in the production process using digital system. The figure of an ideal mechanical engineering of the industry 4.0 should be able to response all the changing needs of the employability skills according to the market power of the manufacturing industry. Employability skills could be identified as a necessity of graduates in order to compete of competition in the era of the industrial revolution 4.0. The purpose of this study is exploring employability skills from an industry that is considered as the most appropriate for graduates of engineering. Every graduate should have the feasibility of work to identify the concept of theoretical and feasibility models of work, minimizing the skills gap by academics. The literature review found out that the manufacturing industry requires employability skills that suitable for mechanical engineering graduates, including technical skills and generic skills. Technical skills included: mechanical engineering drawing, conventional machining, computer numerical controlled, metal fabrication and welding. Generic skills are: social skills, teamwork, communication, critical thinking, ICT skills, and self-management. The implications of this study is helping mechanical engineering graduates for standardizing and improving their skills by industry and academics. Keywords—employability skills; mechanical engineering; manufacturing industry