Aligning STEM Education with Engineering Curricula: A Competency Mapping Framework in the Philippines Using Exploratory Factor Analysis

Pre-engineering education serves as a critical foundation for cultivating the next generation of engineers. In the Philippines, however, a pronounced gap exists between the technical competencies of high school graduates and the expectations for success in collegiate engineering. This misalignment often leaves many prospective engineers unprepared to meet the academic demands of engineering programs. Furthermore, previous works have primarily explored the traditional academic factors, highlighting the need for the inclusion of other determining generic skills necessary to thrive in modern engineering studies. To address this concern, the present study sought to identify the fundamental pre-engineering competencies that engineering educators regard as essential. A 45 -item survey was developed to capture a broad spectrum of skills-ranging from problem-solving and technical abilities to communication and ethical considerations. Data were collected from experienced engineering faculty and analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The resulting sixfactor model provides a clear, data-driven structure highlighting core competencies in areas such as technical problem-solving, collaboration, ethics, and lifelong learning. These findings underscored the urgency for curriculum reforms that more effectively integrate real-world applications, ethical decisionmaking, teamwork, and analytical thinking at the secondary level. By illuminating the competencies most critical for engineering studies, the study aims to guide policymakers, educational administrators, and curriculum developers in aligning the existing K-12 STEM framework with the actual demands of higher education in engineering. Ultimately, this research sets the stage for a more holistic, transformative approach to pre-engineering education to ensure that aspiring engineers are well-prepared to tackle the complexities of their chosen field.