Investigating Environmental Health Engineering Graduates’ viewpoints about the Conformity Rate of the curriculum with Their Professional Needs in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province

Introduction: Assessing the conformity rate of educational programs with professional needs can lead to identify the weaknesses of such programs and provide the opportunity for their improvement. This study aimed to investigate the viewpoint of environmental health engineering graduates about conformity rate of the curriculum with their professional needs in Charharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 100 environmental health engineering graduates in 2013. The data was collected through a researcher-made questionnaire consisted of two sections: demographic (7 questions) and questions related to all specialized courses (42 questions) with a three-point rating scale (low, medium and high). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The results showed that the most suitable courses were inspection and control of food (both theoretical and practical), solid waste, disinfection and water treatment with 72.5%, 67.2%, 56.2%, 55%, and 53.8% conformity rates, respectively and showed that these courses had the most conformity with professional needs. Other courses such as mapping, fluid mechanics, hydraulics, pump and engine, and industrial wastewater with 66.2%, 58.8%, 57.5%, 56.3% and 51.2% respectively, had the least conformity with professional needs. Conclusion: Professional needs of environmental health engineering graduates were not fully covered by their curriculum. It seems necessary to change the educational programs and provide necessary means and facilities in order to achieve the professional objectives and train skilled and productive human resources.