Developing Communication Skills during Undergraduate Studies: a Personalized Approach

Abstract

It is no wonder that communication skills areamong the twelve attributes required by the CanadianEngineering Accreditation Board, since engineers mustpossess strong oral and written communication skills. AtPolytechnique Montréal, all undergraduate students havebeen required to take a mandatory credit for this specific“soft-skill” since 2006.As an alternative to the classical one-term class, thisthree-year long innovative educational strategy is basedon a personalized approach. The first year, after takingdiagnostic tests in written and oral communication,students attend communication workshops. They thenperform realistic communication tasks in engineeringrelatedsituations, both at school and during aninternship. Each year, they complete an e-portfolio andreflect on the development of their communication skills.This method demonstrates the academic andprofessional transversality of a program-based approach.It also allows for practical assessment of complexengineering concepts reflecting the underlying philosophyof the twelve attributes.