Relevance of Engineering Management Courses to Managerial Skills in the Industry

Abstract

Digital technologies have radically influenced the modern workplace, which is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic making it possible to work from home or remotely. Furthermore, these changes have been assimilated, so it is now necessary and difficult to separate ourselves from the flexible working environment. This article examines the various engineering management courses offered by Australian institutions to compare the skillsets taught and those deemed significant by engineering managers. The goal is to determine this connection in the current digital age, where reskilling, digital intelligence, and empathy are some of the themes identified in the literature review. The article is based on a review of 20 relevant research articles, interviews with 10 Australian engineering and technical managers transitioning from engineering to managerial and team leadership roles, and an analysis of 6 Australian university curriculums. The findings highlight the importance of digital and emotional intelligence for managers. The article shows that most of the skillsets offered by the Australian university curricula did not include key skills.