Developing a Competency Learning Model for Students of Unmanned Aerial Systems

Over the past decade, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), along with commercial UAS pilots, have become an established and increasingly regulated industry. Unfortunately, in the U.S. the number of near misses and incidents involving unsafe UAS operations is increasing dramatically. Additionally, industries looking to adopt UAS technologies not only require trained professionals to ensure safe and legal operations but may look for competencies that go well beyond the minimum regulatory requirements. To date, research regarding the higher order learning outcomes and competencies that are expected of UAS university graduates is lacking. Therefore, this research attempts to provide perspective of the core competencies that industry organizations may desire in a UAS graduate and, by extension, in a UAS professional. This paper describes the methods used to identify core UAS competencies, and presents a UAS Competency Learning Model that may help educators better prepare graduates for successful industry careers. Researchers utilized a multi-phase process over an 18-month period using both quantitative and qualitative methods, which included literature reviews, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and attendance at UAS industry events. Ultimately, from this research emerged the following six UAS competencies: Leadership, Technical Excellence, Safety and Ethics, Analytical Thinking, Teamwork, and Entrepreneurship.