Professionalism Among Chinese Engineers: An Empirical Study

Area of Science:

• Engineering Education
• Sociology of Professions

Background:

• The concept of
• profession
• may extend beyond its literal English translation.
• Previous research by Davis and Zhang (2016) suggested engineering functions as a profession in China despite linguistic differences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate and expand upon previous findings regarding the concept of profession among Chinese engineers.
• To investigate the perception of professional competence within Chinese engineering.
• To analyze the self-attributed knowledge, skills, and judgment of engineers.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 229 Chinese engineers, representing a larger and more diverse sample than prior studies.
• Questionnaire design focused on aligning with the concepts of profession and professional competence.
• Analysis of survey data to interpret the presence and perception of these concepts.

Main Results:

• Confirmation that engineering is perceived as a profession in China, consistent with prior research.
• Evidence of a well-developed concept of professional competence among surveyed engineers.
• Engineers attribute significant knowledge, skill, and judgment to themselves and their peers.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the broader applicability of the concept of "profession" in cross-cultural contexts.
• Chinese engineers demonstrate a strong sense of professional identity and competence.
• The study underscores the importance of perceived competence in defining a profession.