Integration of the structured development of communication skills within a chemical engineering curriculum at the University of Adelaide

• Published in: Education for chemical engineers Vol. 27; pp. 20 - 27
• Main Authors: Yong, Elizabeth, Ashman, Peter J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2019
• Subjects: Broad spectrum of communication abilities; Engineering communication skills development; Integrated curriculum; Student resistance to integration of communication skills in engineering; Engineering communication skills development; Student resistance to integration of communication skills in engineering; Broad spectrum of communication abilities; Integrated curriculum
• ISSN: 1749-7728; 1749-7728
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ece.2018.12.002

•Engineering communication skills are closely integrated with technical topics.•Online materials and an interactive class environment improved writing skills.•Highly tailored assistance with writing individual tasks was effective.•Individual assistance with writing in group tasks had limited success.•Initial resistance to integrated curriculum was effectively addressed. Communication skills are among the most important attributes for engineering graduates, and yet Australian employers are often dissatisfied with the level of communication skills demonstrated by graduate engineers. In recognition of the importance of communication skills, an engineering communication curriculum is fully integrated into two undergraduate courses in the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Adelaide. The structured development of fundamental engineering communication skills in two Professional Practice courses (Levels I and II) is a collaboration between lecturers from the School of Chemical Engineering and the Faculty’s Engineering Communication Unit. The integration at Level I (Professional Practice I) is the focus of this paper. The success of the integration has been sustained in every Professional Practice I cohort from 2009 to 2016. Improvement is evident in the communication skills of almost every individual student, particularly for those students who enter the course with low-level skills. The wide spectrum of communication abilities, and some initial resistance from students to a focus on communication skills within an engineering course have been effectively addressed with a number of strategies. Limited success has been achieved with intervention in contributions to group reports by students with low-level skills.