Work in Progress: Developing a Curriculum that Teaches Engineering Leadership & Management Principles to High Performing Students

Abstract

Report findings in Engineering Education developed by the National Academy of Engineering entitled Educating the Engineer of 2020: Adapting Engineering Education to the New Century, identify the importance of integrating leadership and management studies within engineering curriculums to educate future engineering graduates. Currently, most engineering education curriculums do not include courses that adequately prepare students for leadership and management positions. Therefore, the education gap identified between engineering curriculums and industry management and leadership skills suggests the need for curriculum reform. In response to this need, faculty within the Department of Industrial Engineering & Management Systems at the University of Central Florida have developed a curriculum that supports the offering of a Minor in Engineering Leadership & Management for top performing undergraduate students majoring in various disciplines of engineering or computer science.