It is of utmost importance that universities seek out creative ways to enhance the written and oral communication skills of their engineering students. Too many engineering students graduate and enter today’s competitive job market without sufficient communication skills that will ultimately give them an edge in their profession. It takes hard work and perseverance to obtain a four-year engineering degree, yet many talented students may be overlooked due to inadequate communication skills. Although a student may be more than qualified for an engineering position, a lack of written and oral communication skills could have a negative impact on his or her perceived level of skill. Employers today are searching for well-rounded individuals who are capable of performing multiple job tasks. They demand engineers who are not only technically astute, but who can also conduct research and effectively communicate their ideas to others. This paper examines the importance of written and oral communication skills in engineering professions. Additionally, it investigates various methods of teaching written and oral communication skills to many engineering students, including mechanical engineering, in higher education. It also describes the methods employed by the authors to enhance the communication skills of engineering technology students at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). Top priority should be given to see that students are able to live up to the highest standards both academically and professionally. It is time that universities empowered their students with the additional skills necessary to survive and flourish in today’s competitive and demanding job market.
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ASME 2004 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
November 13–19, 2004
Anaheim, California, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Mechanical Engineering Education, Mechanical Engineering Technology Department Heads
ISBN:
0-7918-4723-3
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Mechanical Engineering Education: Not Just About the Math
Saeed D. Foroudastan,
Saeed D. Foroudastan
Middle Tennessee State University
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Dyani Saxby
Dyani Saxby
Middle Tennessee State University
Search for other works by this author on:
Saeed D. Foroudastan
Middle Tennessee State University
Dyani Saxby
Middle Tennessee State University
Paper No:
IMECE2004-60721, pp. 165-171; 7 pages
Published Online:
March 24, 2008
Citation
Foroudastan, SD, & Saxby, D. "Mechanical Engineering Education: Not Just About the Math." Proceedings of the ASME 2004 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Innovations in Engineering Education: Mechanical Engineering Education, Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Engineering Technology Department Heads. Anaheim, California, USA. November 13–19, 2004. pp. 165-171. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2004-60721
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