Diversification of engineering management studies in enriching the learning experience for the 21st century global engineer

Abstract

This paper examines the engrained practice of contextualising engineering management studies within a technical context. The author argues that this practice has attributed to a generation of graduates that are well focused and technically competent but lack the creativity and professional skills needed to operate as a global engineer in the 21st century. The world is moving rapidly and an adaptive workforce is part of the success formula now and into the future. In the future world of mega projects, crosscultural diversity, intellectual mobility, multiple stakeholders and increasingly complex operating frameworks for engineers, one would argue the current curriculum of training engineers within disciplines to be technical specialists is inherently outdated. This paper provides an initial scoping study for further work to be developed and proposes a diversification principle in the reform of curriculum design in engineering management programs.