Comparing Learning Outcomes Among Undergraduate Students

Engineering students in higher education need to be prepared to work on sustainable solutions to the complex problems that they will be confronted during their professional careers. The first cohort of graduates from the Tec21 educational model, launched in 2019, completed their studies after four years. Preliminary findings suggest the successful implementation of the model, which is attributed to the diverse experiences encountered by graduates through approximately 7-8 training partners throughout their academic journey. This article presents a comparative analysis of the level of achievement of our engineering students in 4 soft skills evaluated during the first stage of their professional careers. Our examination focuses on 498 students from August 2019 enrollment out of over 1,600 students across five academic programs: Industrial and Systems Engineering, Computer Technologies Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Biotechnology Engineering at the Monterrey Campus of Tecnológico de Monterrey. Preliminary results show high levels of achievement in several soft competencies such as self-awareness, well-being, and self-regulation, while self-awareness scores lower, suggesting the need to promote constant self-reflection in our engineering students. Tec21 educational model at Tecnológico de Monterrey is demonstrated as an empowering factor for students to acquire specialized knowledge and essential soft skills. Tec21 distinguishes itself from traditional programs that are formulated around integral courses, with its holistic approach to learning throughout the undergraduate journey. Finally, Tec21 promotes student interaction with professors and the educational environment as a complete learning experience.