Leadership Development through Project Based Learning

Abstract

The traditional hierarchical model of leadership is outdated and in its place are flatter industrial models where leadership is shared amongst the various individuals in a team. The modern team based project is an essential method used to create successful endeavors. Engineers must be trained to lead and participate in multidisciplinary teams. The learning process of becoming an effective leader and a valued team member must begin through the introduction of leadership skills during undergraduate engineering education. Project Based Learning (PBL) is an example where such training can have a profound influence on the learner, enabling growth of future leaders. Project Based Learning has long been touted as an excellent method of active learning which greatly facilitates application and retention of theory. Its use to improve ‘soft skills’ such as communication, individual growth, life-long learning and team-work is also evident. Difficulties with PBL are more often institutionally-based involving implementation on a large scale and faculty enthusiasm and time commitments. This paper expands on the use of PBL as a method to develop student leaders focusing on individual student experiences within team environments. It introduces various PBL approaches and their implementation within an existing engineering educational framework.