Needs Analysis of English for the EIC Program in Preparing Students for Co-Operative Education

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the English language skill requirements for cooperative education from the perspectives of companies and EIC alumni graduates, and to examine the English and related skills needed to prepare EIC students for cooperative education placements. This research employed a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected from 46 EIC students via an online questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations. Qualitative data from open-ended questions were analyzed using grounded theory, employing open coding and frequency distributions to identify key themes related to skill needs. The findings indicated that companies and EIC alumni emphasized the importance of English-language skills for cooperative education. Among the four skills, reading was rated as the most important (x̄ = 4.09, SD = 0.08), while writing received the lowest mean score (x̄ = 4.00, SD = 0.05). Despite variations in ranking, all English skills were considered essential for adequate preparation for cooperative education. The study concludes that English language skills are critical for enhancing students’ readiness for cooperative education. The results suggest that the targeted development of English competencies should be integrated into the EIC curriculum to better prepare students and strengthen the EIC program at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Tak.