An exploration of the conative domain among engineering students

Concerns about student retention, demotivation and lack of confidence in engineering courses has been discussed over the past 15 years. This study suggests the need of exploration study on conative domain to prepare students for future challenges in engineering study. One promising line of research is to promote a deeper understanding of the concept of conative domain, to explain the confusion between the idea of conation as motivation and resilience, and to discuss several researches on conation in educational contexts.This paper is part of an ongoing PhD research project that aims to explore conative domain among engineering students. It reviews existing literature in this topic and presents preliminary findings from surveys and interviews. The results from surveys showed students were less confident of their own technical skills and have a lower level of self-esteem compared to employers’ perception. Results from lecturers’ interviews showed students’ attitudes and interest were the major obstacle that affects their willingness in exploring engineering skills.