Developing engineering communicative competency through effective assessment methods

Abstract

A great importance of engineering education over the last decade has been on the development of some very specific non-technical attributes which included communication skills, the ability to function in teams, knowledge of societal and contemporary issues, development of global perspective, and ethics awareness. These non-technical skills complement a strong technical foundation to produce well-rounded engineering graduates who are flexible and adaptable to suit the constantly developing and changing requirements of the workplace. The industry as well as the international and local accreditation bodies have repeatedly highlighted the importance of strong communication skills for engineers entering the workplace [1] – [7]. Industries require a greater number of communication and interpersonal skills for entry-level engineers [8], yet, graduate engineers still lack the required standard of communication skills [9]. Engineering communication competency, especially in the English language is essential for an engineer who aspires to carry out his/her professional practice in the global economy.Similarly, the challenges faced by graduates are to focus on the development of the professional skills in the undergraduate engineering program in order to meet the demands from industries. As such the Malaysian higher education system must produce graduates who can communicate effectively in English. Otherwise, it would lose one of its vital selling points for foreign investors to ensure that the skilled labor forces are sufficient to support internationally competitive commerce and industry and to provide individuals with opportunities to optimize their potentials [10], [11].