CDIO engineering programmes aim at producing engineers who are ready to add value to their employers and the society at large. This is typically achieved through a balanced combination of theory and hands on practice. A key to the success of any educational programme is the quality of students’ intake. In Malaysia, students planning on joining engineering programmes need to take science subjects at their pre-university studies. Good performance at subjects like Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry is highly desirable entry qualification. As a result, students who join an engineering programme may have very little preparation for the hands-on project-based learning nature for a CDIO based engineering programme.
In order to address this, the school of engineering at Taylor's University (Malaysia) has developed a one-year Foundation in Engineering programme that contains a suitable handsoncomponent and aims at developing students’ global awareness and ability to think and take ownership of their own development.