Incorporating industry goals into academic programs: A case study of a successful effort

Abstract

The need for trained Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF/E) professionals has increased remarkably over the last few years. The skill sets these professionals need to have vary by industry and changes over time. However, current employers of HF/E new-hires have repeatedly indicated that students are not getting sufficient training and preparation for their positions. This panel will present a case study of how a newly developed program integrated the needs of industry into the academic requirements of the program. Further, the question and discussion part of the panel session will focus on developing a guideline for other programs to utilize to integrate the needs of industry into their academic programs.