Important Considerations in Improving the Acquisition of Communication Skills by Engineers

Communication skills, as discussed in this article, are considered from the point of view of linguistics, communication channels and patterns for engineers, as well as strategies for effective communication and the re-evaluation of engineering curricula that must be incorporated in engineering courses in order to enhance communication-related outcomes. Therefore, it is the intention of the authors to reflect on communication skills for engineers, which are so critical for professional success and, hence, so necessary to be an integral part of engineering education. It is a well-known fact that demand breeds supply. With a constantly growing number of commercial courses like English for Engineers or Communication Skills for Engineers, which are designed to help engineers to communicate effectively in English, there is no doubt that something is missing in engineering and technology education. Many engineering educators, as well as industry leaders, strongly advocate for the inclusion of the development of the so-called soft skills in engineering curricula. This comes from the application of modern technologies and industrial processes, as well as the globalisation of professional and business activities, which have caused a great impact on engineering that demands from engineering graduates well-developed communication skills in native and foreign languages.