Investigating the State of Teaching Multiple Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) Techniques within Higher Education: A Case Study of Engineering Disciplines at the University of Manchester

In today's dynamic and competitive professional landscape, the crucial skill of decision-making is highly valued by employers across various industries. It serves as a decisive factor in selecting candidates suitable for roles of greater responsibility. Moreover, contemporary problems often involve multiple criteria, necessitating the application of multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) techniques to effectively address and resolve such complex issues. Consequently, students attending universities that prioritise and incorporate the teaching of MADM techniques into their modules are more likely to secure employment opportunities in the future, as such knowledge aligns well with the evolving demands of the professional landscape. Despite the mentioned premises, there is a scarcity of studies examining the state of teaching such techniques in higher education. Therefore, this study aims to bridge this gap by conducting a comprehensive examination of the manner in which MADM techniques are taught in engineering disciplines, with the University of Manchester serving as a case study. Data was collected using questionnaire survey, followed by the application of descriptive analysis techniques to scrutinize and interpret the collected dataset. The obtained results illustrated that limited MADM techniques are taught in different modules, introducing potential for further enhancement and refinement in the future. Findings of this study is valuable for future curriculum planning at the mentioned institution, which can have significant influence on the employability of students in the future. Also, the methodology employed in this study can be utilised by other researchers to investigate other institutions all around the world.