Engineering to Management Transition

This chapter identifies the main challenges in the transition from engineering to management and discusses how management education may assist in this transition. Mixed methods were used to achieve the above. Initially, two focus groups were conducted, and at a later stage, 126 engineers reported through a questionnaire the most common challenges in the transition from engineering to management and then a few were also interviewed. Results demonstrate that skills such as delegation, communication, convincing, coaching, and guiding others pose important challenges. In relation to the second inquiry, it is proposed that, other than management theory, offering examples, opportunity to practice with feedback, and case-based learning can help minimise the challenges. Also, leadership skills, such as delegation, developing personality, cross-cultural understanding, and managing diversity, can be strategically used to facilitate learning in the field of engineering and better prepare engineers in their transition to management.

Teaching a Technical Writing and Research Course to Engineering Students

Training in communication skills is considered extremely important in the engineering profession. However, educational organisations and most specifically engineering programs and departments have often been criticised for failing to adequately prepare engineering students for the situations they will face in the workplace. This chapter describes a technical writing and research course that is offered as a required course to engineering students and analyses the advantages and limitations of the course pointing to changes in the course development that will enable students to perform successfully as communicators in the workplace.

A Measurement Model for Collaborative Online Learning in Postgraduate Engineering Management Studies

Although the approach of social constructivism is not new (its origins are dated back to the pre-World War II era), it can be used along with novel learning strategies to facilitate quality online learning. The progress of technology, learning platforms and digital resources, together with certain social constructivism techniques, enable engineering practitioners to study in postgraduate management programs that replicate face-to-face environments. In this chapter, the authors introduce certain metrics (objectives, critical success factors, key performance indicators, and targets) along with a handful of constructivism techniques, namely, ‘peer interaction', ‘forum activities', ‘learning by doing', and ‘systematic feedback'. Linking the constructs of social constructivism with quantification enables us to develop a rational model of performance measurement, serving as a navigation instrument for instructors, instructional designers, and learners.

Management Education, Satisfaction, and Career Growth

The chapter aims at addressing some of the critical questions that will be of immense help to engineering graduates who are likely to consider pursuing management degrees. Data were obtained from a sample of 96 techno managers to explore their perception of career growth and opportunities after pursuing their management education. In particular, the chapter examines in detail the relationship between management education and career satisfaction in techno managers. Also, factors that influence in choosing a management degree were studied. A few of the critical findings from the study were that gender has not shown any significant difference in satisfaction. At the same time, experience has shown a significant difference in satisfaction. From the results obtained, it could be concluded that the techno managers were found to be satisfied with the career choice as an MBA after engineering.

The Power of Leadership in Engineering Management Education

The aim of this chapter is to bridge the gap between literature about leadership studies and engineering education to develop future engineering leaders. The chapter focuses upon the hindrances that are faced in integrating leadership programs in the engineering circular. To this end, the chapter employed qualitative methodology under which it reviewed literature on multiple lines such as identifying significance of leadership for engineering students, identification of leadership practices and skills taught to engineering students, and the way this can be improved. Key findings of chapter emphasized on leadership as an important skill for future engineers thus demanding need for equipping engineers with skills needed to become an effective leader. It is found that having engineers to develop leadership skills will enable them to perform their role effectively, effectively allocate and utilize available resources. Thus, the chapter recommends integration of leadership knowledge and skills in engineering curricula through usage of variety of tools such as experiential learning and self-awareness.

Innovative Learning and Education Practices in European Universities

In the dynamic world that is associated with unpredictable informatization and globalization, it is indispensable for education to be sustainable and continuously evolve to facilitate in fulfilling the learners' needs in the current digital technologies and knowledge era. In this chapter, the author discussed how innovative learning and education practices for modern pedagogy have been developed in the European universities system. Specifically, the author provides a delineation of the attributes, pedagogy, ideology, ethical dimensions, and practical applications of innovative learning education practices. In the chapter, the author identified the different practices such as massive open online courses (MOOCs), blended learning, and flipped classrooms that have been applied at different European universities. Thus, the information discussed in this chapter is relevant to university educators and electronic learning practitioners.

Emotional Intelligence in Engineering Management Education

This chapter aims to increase understanding of how engineering students can benefit from integrating emotional intelligence (EI) into engineering curricula at universities. In particular, it explores the nature of EI and argues for the greater use of EI within engineering education, but also considers the challenges of placing an emphasis on EI within this field. The chapter makes recommendations for how EI skills can be incorporated into engineering education and how universities can seize the opportunity to shape the modern engineer and advance the standing of engineering in the future. The chapter's contribution lies in raising awareness not just about the benefits of integrating EI within engineering education, but also on the challenges that an empathetic behaviour entail. The authors argue that university education needs to be able to prepare graduates with engineering fundamentals and also for success and actual on-the-job EI skills.

The Design and Redesign of an Online Socio-Constructivist Course on Engineering Management

This chapter focuses on the design and redesign of an online engineering management course, based on a socio-constructivist approach. At first, the theoretical and contextual premises will be presented with a focus on the suggested teaching and learning methods to acquire domain-related knowledge and crucial skills and on the importance of learning scenario to support an effective learning design. After the background introduction, a user case will be described, focusing on the course online environment and its tools, on the proposed pedagogical strategies and above all, on how instructors can obtain and analyze useful educational data from various sources. Finally, some redesign recommendations will be provided to better use educational data for continuous course improvement.