Ohio State nav bar

The Ohio State University

  • BuckeyeLink
  • Find People
  • Search Ohio State

The Importance of Communication Skills for the Modern Engineer

By Graham Ballinger

When you think of engineering, what comes to mind? If you are an outsider to the major, you probably think of the stereotypical, overworked student whose work consists of nothing but endless calculations. I doubt many of us would attribute writing and public speaking to the average engineer’s career.  We assume engineers leave that stuff to the humanities students.

Although the “overworked student” stereotype is still accurate, what most people don’t realize is just how prominent and vital communication skills have become in the field of engineering. We can define “communication skills,” as anything that has to do with communication. This broad definition includes writing, speaking and listening skills. Studies have shown that most graduates felt they had gained analytical and problem-solving skills, subject-specific knowledge and improved decision-making abilities through their engineering degrees. Much fewer felt that their communication skills had improved due to their engineering education.  [1]

So why should engineers want to hone their communication skills? One big reason that should catch student’s attention is that it is a valuable career enhancer. Employers want engineers with strong communication skills. They assume most people who graduate with an engineering degree have the technical expertise to do their jobs; what employers are looking for in a candidate is the ability to communicate their findings with others in a productive, efficient manner. In today’s world, it is essential for an engineer to possess strong communication skills; it is the biggest determiner of success in the modern engineer’s professional career. [1]

Aside from impressing their employers and being hired, engineers need to use communication skills every day. Imagine you’re an engineer working in a 4-person team on an assignment. Each team member has important tasks, and everyone’s contributions are crucial to the success of your assignment. What if one of the workers lacks communication skills? They don’t listen well. They don’t contribute to group discussions on how to move the project forward. Their written reports are unclear and unorganized. Instead of making progress, you’re going to be struggling to decipher their work and incorporate their findings into the overall project. Valuable time, resources, and energy will be wasted, and the finished assignment will likely be lackluster. The team never reaches its full potential, all because somebody didn’t bother to develop decent communication skills. Now, obviously that is an extreme hypothetical situation regarded someone with poor communication skills. However, the overall point is clear: a lack of communication skills in today’s engineer leads to inefficiency, wasted effort, mistrust and resentment between co-workers. Not many people would want to hire or work with someone like that.

So what can engineering students today do to work on this problem? Thankfully, in the last decade or so, Ohio State, along with other major universities, has taken notice of the importance of teaching communication skills to their students. For example, Professor Mary Faure integrated an interesting twist into her ENGR 2367 class by developing a collaborative education model with representatives of two central Ohio-based companies. Essentially, the companies present students with a real-world engineering problem. Students quickly had to learn enough about the subject to start developing their own solutions. They worked with real professional engineers to come up with solutions, simultaneously honing their communication skills by attacking a real-world work situation.

“Today’s engineering students need engaging, contextually-positioned technical communications, project management, entrepreneurial thinking, and teamwork instruction and practice in order to perform well in advanced discipline-specific engineering classes, internships, capstone, and in their entry level engineering positions,” said Mary Faure, “This project was designed to provide important skill-building through authentic, hands-on experience, which today’s students crave . . . it gives students a unique experience without adding credit hours to their curriculum or costs to college expenses.”  Faure’s project introduced an exciting way to incorporate the teaching of communication skills into an already-crowded engineering curriculum.

importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

An obstacle course where each group competes to determine whose robot is the best

Dr. Kathy Harper, a professor who teaches in the Fundamentals of Engineering Honors (FEH) program, has also taken notice of the need to incorporate communication skills into the engineering curriculum. She is part of a team that organizes a Robotics competition each year for first-year students in the FEH program. Her students typically write some sort of report, memo, or abstract at least once a week.

“We really emphasize technical communication and writing . . .The students get very good at it as the course goes on,” says Harper, “We’ve taken time away from lab to talk to students about basic writing and grammatical skills. We teach them to write specific details, instead of writing vaguely.”

At the end of the course, the students write a technical report on their final project. This obviously involves writing some things individually, but also writing some things as a group, a skill Dr. Harper thinks is equally important.

“The students really have to communicate their findings with each other effectively,” says Harper. “It’s hard to take something 4 people have worked on, and put it together so it seems like it has the same voice.”

Dr. Harper says students are continually amazed by how much documentation goes into robot building project. They document the process that went into designing the robot, whether it was successful or not and what would they do next.  They also have to show their budget, how much time they worked on the robot.

“These details are all things the people who will be paying these students to do these jobs in the future will want to know.  ‘How did your ideas evolve, why did you decide to do what you did, why should we like this, why should we give you more money to continue the project…Why did it cost so much to make this?’” Dr. Harper explains. “The students have to say, ‘well here are the people hours we put into it, here are the materials we put into it, here’s the amount of time we used in the test facility.’ All these things have to be communicated.”

importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

Each group’s robot is unique and built from scratch

The robot competition aims to instill these communication skills in their students, so they can be better prepared for their careers after graduation. Some groups even get a first-hand experience into just how important these skills when working on the project.

According to Dr. Harper, “90% of the time, when you see a team that is having issues, most of those issues can be solved with better communication.”

So how can you make sure your communication skills continue to improve in college? Dr. Harper has a simple solution.

“Any skill that’s worth learning requires practice. You don’t watch a lot of football games, then go in and feel like you could be the quarterback and win the Super Bowl. Just because you’ve watched it a lot, you understand the mechanics of it and you understand the rules of the game, doesn’t mean that you know how to play it,” explains Harper. “Whenever you’re put in a place where it’s time to refine skills, you have to be ready to practice; you have to be ready to learn new things. You have to be ready to take the feedback.”

[1] http://www.wiete.com.au/journals/GJEE/Publish/vol11no1/Riemer.pdf

Kettering University Online

Learn Differently-Worldwide

  • 1-855-418-0201 Call Now
  • Request  More Info

Take action toward possibility in 2023! Apply by March 14 to start classes in March.

Why is Communication Important for Engineers?

Why Communication Is Important for Engineers

  • You can have the greatest ideas in the world, but they usually aren’t much good to your company or your career if you can’t express them clearly and persuasively... In fields such as engineering or finance, you often need to share complex ideas with executives, customers, and colleagues, and your ability to connect with people outside your field can be as important as your technical expertise (Bovee and Thill, 2021, p. 4).

Kettering University Online recognizes that, in the past, engineering was often seen as a technical field for which exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills were the primary requirements for success. They also recognize the landscape of the engineering industry is rapidly evolving, and it is becoming increasingly evident that effective communication skills are just as crucial as technical expertise. Which is why they emphasize the importance of effective and efficient verbal and written communication in all of their courses.

Let’s explore the reasons behind the growing importance of effective communication in engineering and highlight why engineers must develop strong communication skills to thrive in today’s industry.

  • Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Projects - Projects today are more complex and require collaboration among diverse teams. Modern engineering challenges often involve multiple disciplines, such as mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. Effective communication is essential to bridge the gap between these disciplines, ensuring that all team members understand each other’s perspectives, requirements, and constraints. Engineers with strong communication skills can facilitate collaboration, streamline decision-making processes, and foster a harmonious work environment.
  • Client Engagement and Stakeholder Management - The engineering industry now places greater emphasis on client engagement and stakeholder management. Engineers must communicate effectively with clients, understand their needs and expectations, and translate technical concepts into understandable language. Clear and concise communication fosters trust, enhances client satisfaction, and leads to successful project outcomes. Moreover, engineers are often required to interact with government agencies, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders. Effective communication helps manage expectations, address concerns, and ensure compliance with regulations, enabling smoother project execution.
  • Communication in the Design Process - Communication plays a crucial role in the design process. Engineers must convey their ideas, designs, and technical concepts to clients, colleagues, and stakeholders. Strong communication skills facilitate effective presentations, enabling engineers to articulate their vision and rationale behind design choices. Clear communication also helps gather feedback, ensuring that designs meet the desired specifications. Additionally, engineers need to communicate with manufacturing teams, contractors, and suppliers to ensure designs are implemented accurately and efficiently.
  • Project Management and Leadership - Engineers are increasingly taking on project management and leadership roles. Effective communication is vital for project managers to articulate project goals, allocate resources, and coordinate team activities. Through clear communication, project managers can set expectations, delegate tasks, and provide timely updates, ensuring that projects stay on track. Leadership requires motivating and inspiring teams, and effective communication is fundamental to achieving these goals.
  • Impact on Safety and Risk Management - Safety is a critical concern in the engineering industry. Engineers must communicate safety protocols, hazard information, and risk management strategies effectively to minimize accidents and ensure the well-being of both workers and end-users. Clear communication about potential risks, safety guidelines, and emergency procedures is paramount to maintaining a safe working environment. Strong communication skills enable engineers to convey complex safety information comprehensively, ensuring that everyone involved understands and adheres to the necessary precautions.

Some Effective Communication Tips for Engineers to Remember

Regardless of industry, all professionals should work to hone their communication skills. Next are some tips about how to improve your listening, speaking, and presentation skills.

Listening - Improve Your Listening Skills

Listening is not an easy activity when done correctly. Also, listening is just as important as speaking. Bovee and Thill (2023, p. 96) note that effective listeners:

  • Put themselves in an open and positive state of mind
  • Keep themselves engaged in the conversation by using active listening techniques
  • Respect silence
  • Do not interrupt the speaker or be ready with an answer before someone finishes their thoughts
  • Pay attention to nonverbal signals
  • Take thoughtful notes
  • Do not jump to conclusions
  • Do not focus on the personal delivery and appearance of the speaker
  • Resist distractions
  • Paraphrase (repeat what they understood back to the speaker to mitigate miscommunication and misunderstanding)

Verbal Communication – Speak Clearly

When you speak clearly, slowly, and vividly, the chances of being understood by your listeners skyrocket! Keep these tips from Verderber and Verderber (2017) in mind:

  • Use specific and concrete language.
  • Consider your pace and pitch.
  • Consider your volume.
  • Understand that how you say something is just as important as what you say.
  • Provide the right amount of information for the conversation you are having.
  • Use descriptive details and examples.
  • Use inclusive language - meaning do not use language that applies to only one sex, race, or another group as though they represent everyone.
  • Avoid using slang and jargon.
  • Be concise.
  • Be mindful of your body language – eliminate distracting mannerisms.

Public Speaking - Presentations

Whether you are presenting to a few people or a few hundred, rely on these best practices from Stephen Lucas’ book, The Art of Public Speaking (2023):

  • Consider how you will manage your anxiety. Many people use breathing exercises or visualization.
  • Tailor your presentation to the audience.
  • Be ethical in your content and presentation.
  • Prepare, prepare, prepare and rehearse the presentation.
  • Be clear on your central idea.
  • Remember to have an introduction and a conclusion.
  • Use evidence to support your arguments in the body of your speech.
  • Work on eliminating distracting mannerisms.
  • Be mindful of your volume, pace, pitch, and tone.
  • Avoid verbal pauses such as “umm” or “uhh.”

Kettering Online's Innovative Master's Degree in Engineering Management

If you are interested in learning more about communication, as well as leadership, consider enrolling in Kettering University Online’s Masters of Science in Engineering Management . Modern corporate leadership positions increasingly demand professionals possess soft skills such as the ability to deliver high-quality presentations at all levels and respect diversity throughout the organization to build effective and productive relationships with all stakeholders.

One course in the Management and Leadership Certificate Program is Business Communication and Presentation. This six-week course is designed to introduce you to the fundamental principles of business communication as well as the tools and techniques used for communicating professionally, ethically, and effectively through oral, written, and nonverbal language. This course is curated to focus the learner on creating a sound writing process, how to best leverage digital, social, and visual media, and how to develop engaging presentations based on evidence with a delicate balance of logic and emotion.

Remember, in today's engineering industry, the ability to communicate effectively is no longer a desirable skill but an essential one. As the industry becomes more collaborative, client-oriented, and interdisciplinary, engineers must recognize the importance of effective communication. By fostering collaboration, engaging clients and stakeholders, facilitating the design process, excelling in project management, and prioritizing safety, engineers can leverage their technical expertise with strong communication skills to achieve remarkable success. Engineers who embrace communication as a core competency will be better positioned to navigate the evolving landscape of the industry and make a positive impact on the projects they undertake.

  • MicroSkills: Soft Skills for Today’s Workforce - Improve Your Listening Skills
  • Important Soft Skills for Engineering Management Professionals
  • Top Personality Traits of Engineers

References:

Bovee, C.L., and Thill, J. (2020). Business communication today! Pearson Education. Lucas, S. (2023). The art of public speaking. McGraw Hill. Verderber, K.S., Sellnow, D.D, & Verderber, R.F. (2017). Communicate! Cengage Learning.

© 2024 Kettering University

All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | California Privacy Notice

For IEEE Members

Ieee spectrum, follow ieee spectrum, support ieee spectrum, enjoy more free content and benefits by creating an account, saving articles to read later requires an ieee spectrum account, the institute content is only available for members, downloading full pdf issues is exclusive for ieee members, downloading this e-book is exclusive for ieee members, access to spectrum 's digital edition is exclusive for ieee members, following topics is a feature exclusive for ieee members, adding your response to an article requires an ieee spectrum account, create an account to access more content and features on ieee spectrum , including the ability to save articles to read later, download spectrum collections, and participate in conversations with readers and editors. for more exclusive content and features, consider joining ieee ., join the world’s largest professional organization devoted to engineering and applied sciences and get access to all of spectrum’s articles, archives, pdf downloads, and other benefits. learn more →, join the world’s largest professional organization devoted to engineering and applied sciences and get access to this e-book plus all of ieee spectrum’s articles, archives, pdf downloads, and other benefits. learn more →, access thousands of articles — completely free, create an account and get exclusive content and features: save articles, download collections, and talk to tech insiders — all free for full access and benefits, join ieee as a paying member., why communications skills are critical to engineers, being able to clearly share ideas with others is an important quality in a leader.

Engineers must be able to clearly communicate complex ideas and technical project plans.

Engineers are creative types. They are responsible for dreaming up and building systems that companies will implement or sell, with the goal of improving the bottom line. Because their roles require team building and leadership, engineers must be able to clearly communicate complex ideas and technical project plans. They also need to be strong persuaders to see their designs come to life. Building consensus is a giant step toward delivering a project on time and according to specifications.

Here are a few important communication skills that every engineer should possess, and tips on how to master them.

Public speaking

Many people are intimidated by public speaking. But in the working world, it is a vital skill to be able to talk in front of groups of people, as well as to larger crowds. Being able to communicate ideas freely and confidently affects everyday interactions and can impact career paths. Incorporating relatable, self-deprecating and humorous content engages the audience. Several professional groups offer coaching to help members feel more at ease with public speaking. For example, the nationwide Toastmasters organization offers tips and mentoring to improve speakers' confidence and abilities. For engineers in particular, this talent is key to sharing ideas at staff meetings, trade shows and conferences.

Documentation/writing

Engineers need to be able to report their findings in a clear, concise manner. They will be expected to explain how their ideas evolved, why they designed a project as they did, why a project meets current needs and what makes an idea worth investment. Engineers must be able to communicate the level of effort required, the materials necessary and a time estimate of how long the solution will take — from building a prototype to designing for manufacturability to mass production. Further, some engineers' jobs depend on their being published in prestigious industry journals. Community colleges typically offer business writing classes that can help hone a student's writing technique.

Speaking with authority

The enemy of any speaker is the audience's attention span. Engaging presenters have a knack for playing to their audience by being plain-spoken and knowledgeable without being dull or preachy. Understanding the power of the pause — not rushing in to fill every quiet moment with a word — is a particularly useful tactic. In addition, telling a relevant story helps draw in the audience and is effective for explaining a particularly complex subject. Engineers who can articulate their vision for a product and get support from other engineers, as well as management, will reap career benefits. Having thorough knowledge of the subject matter is the most crucial element for being viewed as an expert whose opinion is worthy of attention.

Effective communicators are more likely to be promoted than those who struggle to get their message across. Engineers who are good communicators are recognized by their supervisors and by their clients, which often leads to loyal customers and solid performance reviews.

  • Advice and Resources for Tech Workers Coping With Job Loss - IEEE Spectrum ›

More from The Institute

This ieee society’s secret to boosting student membership, get to know the ieee board of directors, 50 years later, this apollo-era antenna still talks to voyager 2, the legacy of the datapoint 2200 microcomputer, enhance your tech and business skills during ieee education week, this article is for ieee members only. join ieee to access our full archive., membership includes:.

  • Get unlimited access to IEEE Spectrum content
  • Follow your favorite topics to create a personalized feed of IEEE Spectrum content
  • Save Spectrum articles to read later
  • Network with other technology professionals
  • Establish a professional profile
  • Create a group to share and collaborate on projects
  • Discover IEEE events and activities
  • Join and participate in discussions

College of Engineering

The importance of communication in engineering.

How one program is producing engineers with strong communication skills

importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

The ability to write and speak well when applying for grants, fellowships and industry jobs is critical for engineers – they need to be able to translate their technical knowledge into lay terms and promote their skill set.  To meet this need, the Georgia Tech College of Engineering has incorporated an in-house communications model into its curriculum. Led by faculty formally trained in English, the model is tailored to fit the needs of students in each of the eight engineering schools. When students graduate, they are ready for success, regardless of the path they pursue.

The in-house communications program first began in 1990s when the graduate student population was rapidly increasing at Georgia Tech, and the need for better communication became necessary for success in academic institutions and industry alike. Since its inception, the goal of the in-house model has been to teach communication skills within the context of the engineering discipline through resources and workshops for grant writing and resume building. 

Mechanical Engineering Leads the Way

The first School to implement the new model was Mechanical Engineering, developed by Jeffrey Donnell in 1990. Donnell was a recipient of the Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellowship which offered an opportunity for emerging scholars to develop innovative teaching in their roles as faculty members, and he leveraged it to build the program. Rather than offering communication classes as a part of the Literature department, they were embedded within the College’s classes to prepare students for their careers, providing an experiential learning methodology.

“By being embedded within the department, we can actually have some influence on the way classes and projects are designed to embrace writing,” said Donnell. “That small influence makes a big difference to the students.”

importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

More Schools Come on Board

Shortly after the program was introduced in the School of Mechanical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) followed suit. Lisa Rosenstein developed both in-house programs in 1998 and directed both until 2014 when she moved to CEE full time to focus on the School’s growing program. Rosenstein believes that the College’s in-house model of teaching engineering communication is a “defining feature of a Georgia Tech engineering education.” She has even expanded the program to an international level by embedding communications instruction into the structural engineering courses in the CEE London Study Abroad program. She has received the most positive feedback from students like Aaron Bivins, who have started their careers and discovered the long-term benefits of these communication courses.

“The ability to synthesize complex technical material into succinct reports that were intelligible to non-engineers was a tremendous advantage,” said Aaron Bivins, PhD candidate, CEE.  “I learned to place a premium on my ability to communicate both in writing and in oral presentations. With Dr. Rosenstein's help, I've won two nationally competitive fellowships -- the EPA STAR Graduate Research Fellowship and a Fulbright-Nehru Graduate Research Fellowship.”

Christina Bourgeois was brought onboard in May of 2000 to introduce the communications program to the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). With a background in writing center administration, she took the initiative to put in place a physical communication studio where students could receive individualized instruction and assistance from trained ECE graduate teaching assistants, as they prepared documents, research posters, resumes, elevator pitches, and presentations.

“I want to create a culture of communication here in ECE,” said Bourgeois. “I want students to know that engineers are communicators and that communication is the X-factor—it’s what will set them apart and set them up for success.”

Bourgeois’ goal is to expose students to writing and communications from the minute they begin their first year at Tech, in order to help them develop a sense of confidence and comfort with everything from approaching professors about research opportunities to writing and presenting papers to attending their first career fairs.

“The techniques I've learned for crafting resumes, as well as presentations, will provide me with a capable template that will serve me well into my career,” said Quentin Truncale, an undergraduate in ECE. “Personally, this program has helped me maximize the impact of past internships, while also shaping what I expect to get out of future experiences.”   

Although the communication programs are differentiated by discipline, they are conceptually the same and frequently collaborate to provide their students with the most advantageous experiences. The directors host joint workshops, most notably geared towards the National Science Foundation fellowship, and co-teach classes whenever possible.

For more than two decades, the in-house communications program has become deeply ingrained within almost every department of engineering at the College. And the directors and faculty have developed a unique system that allows students to cultivate their skills both inside and out of the classroom.

Several other Schools in the COE also have long-standing in-house engineering communications programs. The program in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) is directed by Jacqueline Mohalley-Snedeker, and the program in Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) is directed by Dr. Judith Norback. The new program director for MSE is Dr. Alena Alamgir.

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Engineering Management Institute

Why Communication for Engineers Is so Important

June 19, 2018 By EMI

Why Communication for Engineers Is so Important is a guest blog by  Thomas A. Anderson, P.E:

Communication for Engineers

Do you remember the telephone game?

In school, you and your classmates tried to pick a phrase and “pass it on” by whispering it to the person next to you. Then the phrase was passed from person to person until the last person announced the phrase. How much did the phrase change during the game? As people relay message from one person to the other, the message will often be distorted.

While the game is a lot of fun. It also teaches us important lessons.

  • If you do not receive information from a reliable source, you may not get the correct information. It turns into gossip.
  • If you do not produce information properly, it will not be received as planned

Communication skills are vital to success in your personal life and your engineering career. Poorly delivered messages can turn into misunderstanding, frustration, or even a disaster.

By practicing communication, you will understand more of what people say. Your family, friends, and co-workers will have the confidence to come to you when they find themselves in need.

What are the keys to clear communication?

Proper speech.

When speaking, be clear and concise. Speak on important matters directly and do not allow the listeners minds wander. Make sure that you are certain they understand what you are communicating and further explain any points necessary. Do not expect someone to “know” what you are saying. Do not “ASS”ume.

A key to verbal communication for engineers is listening. Not just waiting to speak. If you want to really listen to someone, make mental notes of key points when someone is speaking to you. What you would like to say should come second to understanding. When you have a chance to speak, you can respond to the most vital issues. When others are speaking, focus on the exact words people are saying. This will help you comprehend more information and have a more successful conversation.

If you are confused, repeat what you think they said and ask if that is correct. This inspires the speaker to clarify their needs, which will help you to understand.

Consistent Communication

Great leaders practice consistent communication. Each one of us has a different approach to how you portray a vision. Find your own voice. Then practice consistency. The consistency of your approach will help your family, friends, and coworkers comprehend your information more easily.

During your communications give others time to communicate. Stay focused on what they are trying to communicate and stay open to assisting with their issues. Communication lines tend to break down where impatience gets in the way of the conversation. Every conversation you are involved in is important!

Following Up

When someone communicates an issue to you, your main priority should be to solve their problem. Following up on a problem is the only way to convince people you have listened to them and that their problems or issues are important to you as well.

Practicing consistent follow-up will leave the impression that you are involved in the bigger picture. People will learn that you are open to future communications. This makes you loyal! Others will be confident that they can rely on you.

Business Communication Success

Both written and verbal communication skills are of the utmost importance in business, especially in engineering. Communication skills boost you or your teams’ performance because they provide clear information and expectations to help manage and deliver excellent work.

  • Leave open communication lines to those who need you. You can prevent small issues from turning into larger ones, by leaving open lines of communication.
  • Make rules. Make sure people in your business understand what they should and should not be saying.
  • Create an open-door policy. Make sure employees can talk with management at any time.
  • Give feedback. Be genuinely interested in issues, comments, and concerns.
  • Communicate the future. Update employees regularly about company goals and vision.
“Communication is a skill that you can learn. It is like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.” – Brian Tracy

About Thomas A. Anderson, P.E:

Thomas is a licensed mechanical engineer from Point Park University. He has 10 years of experience designing equipment and managing projects within the steel industry. Thomas works for Hatch in Pittsburgh, PA and belongs to the Engineer Society of Western Pennsylvania, Association for Iron and Steel Technology, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He is a dedicated Toastmaster and owns his own coaching business called “Engineer Your Career” where he spends his free time helping engineers reach their career goals.

Please leave your comments, feedback or questions below that you may have in regards to communication for engineers.

  • If you enjoyed this post, please consider downloading our free list of 33 Productivity Routines of Top Engineering Executives. Click the button below to download. Download the Productivity Routines

To your success,

Anthony Fasano, PE, LEED AP Engineering Management Institute Author of  Engineer Your Own Success

Related Posts

  • Why Professional Development never Ends for Engineers
  • Why Engineers Make Great CEOs
  • Good Communication Skills- An Engineer's Career Escalator
  • 5 Crucial Client Communication Skills for Engineering Project Managers
  • 3 Uncommon Engineering Skills That Engineers Should Develop for Extraordinary Success

importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

We can help you:.

  • Build solutions to attract talented professionals.
  • Develop your staff’s people skills.
  • Create career roadmaps for your staff.
  • Provide PM training for your professionals.
  • Build custom development programs.
  • Scale sustainably.

50 E. Ridgewood Avenue #129

Ridgewood NJ, 07450

800-920-4007

importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

SPECIAL DOWNLOAD

33 Productivity Routines of Top Engineering Executives

importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

Essay on Importance of Communication for Students and Children

500+ words essay on importance of communication:.

Communication is one of the important tools that aid us to connect with people. Either you are a student or a working professional, good communication is something that will connect you far ahead. Proper communication can help you to solve a number of issues and resolve problems. This is the reason that one must know how to communicate well. The skills of communication essential to be developed so that you are able to interact with people. And able to share your thoughts and reach out to them. All this needs the correct guidance and self-analysis as well.

essay on importance of communication

Meaning of Communication

The word communication is basically a process of interaction with the people and their environment . Through such type of interactions, two or more individuals influence the ideas, beliefs, and attitudes of each other.

Such interactions happen through the exchange of information through words, gestures, signs, symbols, and expressions. In organizations, communication is an endless process of giving and receiving information and to build social relationships.

Importance of Communication

Communication is not merely essential but the need of the hour. It allows you to get the trust of the people and at the same time carry better opportunities before you. Some important points are as follows –

Help to Build Relationships 

No matter either you are studying or working, communication can aid you to build a relationship with the people. If you are studying you communicate with classmates and teachers to build a relationship with them. Likewise in offices and organizations too, you make relationships with the staff, your boss and other people around.

Improve the Working Environment 

There are a number of issues which can be handled through the right and effective communication. Even planning needs communication both written as well as verbal. Hence it is essential to be good in them so as to fill in the communication gap.

Foster strong team

Communication helps to build a strong team environment in the office and other places. Any work which requires to be done in a team. It is only possible if the head communicates everything well and in the right direction.

Find the right solutions

Through communication, anyone can find solutions to even serious problems. When we talk, we get ideas from people that aid us to solve the issues. This is where communication comes into play. Powerful communication is the strength of any organization and can help it in many ways.

Earns more respect

If your communication skills are admirable, people will love and give you respect. If there is any problem, you will be the first person to be contacted. Thus it will increase your importance. Hence you can say that communications skills can make a big change to your reputation in society.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Don’t Go Overboard With Your Point

The conversation is about to express your thoughts. And to let the other person know what you feel. It is not mean to prove that your point is correct and the other person is wrong. Don’t Overboard other With Your Point.

Watch Your Words

Before you say something to Watch Your Words. At times, out of anger or anxiousness, we say somethings that we must not say. Whenever you are in a professional meeting or in some formal place, where there is a necessity of communicating about your product or work then it is advised to practice the same beforehand

Communication is the greatest importance. It is important to sharing out one’s thoughts and feelings to live a fuller and happier life. The more we communicate the less we suffer and the better we feel about everything around. However, it is all the more necessary to learn the art of effective communication to put across ones point well.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

tutor

  • Travelling Essay
  • Picnic Essay
  • Our Country Essay
  • My Parents Essay
  • Essay on Favourite Personality
  • Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
  • Essay on Knowledge is Power
  • Essay on Gurpurab
  • Essay on My Favourite Season
  • Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Google Play

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Study Mumbai

ICSE, CBSE study notes & home schooling, management notes, solved assignments

Communication Skills for First Year Engineering Students

February 13, 2018 by studymumbai Leave a Comment

Mumbai University

Communication Skills for First Year Engineering Students of Mumbai University.

Why English for Engineering Students

English is the communication language for businesses around the world, and also a tool for global communication, that is why there is a growing emphasis on training the students to acquire communicative competence.

GET INSTANT HELP FROM EXPERTS!

Hire us as project guide/assistant . Contact us for more information

The syllabus has been designed to develop the linguistic and communicative competence of Engineering students.

The course content for Basics of Communication Skills for first year (F.E) Engineering students:

Understanding Communication Organization Communication Developing Communication Skills Introduction to Modern Communication Media and Technology Summarization and Comprehension Vocabulary, Grammar, Aptitude Basic Official Correspondence Basic Technical Writing

  • Improve language proficiency of students with emphasis on listening, speaking, reading and writing (LSRW) skills.
  • Enable students to comprehend subjects (theory and practicals) more effectively
  • To develop communication skills of engineering students in formal as well as informal situations.

Communication Skills: Assignment & Essays

Need any help writing your assignment or essay for Communication Skills? If you’re short of time, or if you are worried your communication skills are weak, let us help you. Contact us here.

Engineering English 1st-year PDF Download

  • Engineering English Notes Pdf: Download
  • Engineering English book pdf: Download

Suggested Books for Engineering English: 1st Year

Here are books suggested for students to further improve their English.

Technical Communication: Principles and Practice, Second Edition by Meenakshi Raman and Sangeeta Sharma, Oxford Publications. Effective Technical Communication by M Ashraf Rizvi, The McGraw-Hill companies. Understanding Body Language by Alan Pease. Communicative Grammar of English by Geoffrey Leech and Ian Svartik. Better English Pronunciation by J.D.O’Connor. DETAILED TEXTBOOK: ENGLISH ENCOUNTERS Published by Maruthi Publishers. DETAILED NON-DETAIL: THE GREAT INDIAN SCIENTISTS Published by Cenguage learning ENGLISH FOR ENGINEERS AND TECHNOLOGISTS, Published by Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd

Buy Engineering English Books for 1st year Online at Amazon.in.

Sample Paper: Communication Skills

First Year Engineering (Semester 1) TOTAL MARKS: 100 TOTAL TIME: 3 HOURS (1) Question 1 is compulsory. (2) Attempt any four from the remaining questions. (3) Assume data wherever required. (4) Figures to the right indicate full marks.

Select the correct answer from the given options in the brackets. 1 (a) (i) Amitabh informed me that he ______ (will/would/can) visit me very soon.(1 marks) 1 (a) (ii) ____ (A/An/The) needy should be helped by us.(1 marks) 1 (a) (iii) I always agree ____ (with/to) you but today I don?t agree ____ (with/to) your idea. (1 marks) 1 (a) (iv) Shahid has been working here _____ (since/for/from) many years(1 marks) 1 (a) (v) Sachin ______ (was batting/is batting/batted) when we entered the stadium.(1 marks) 1 (a) (vi) One of the educated leaders ______ (are/were/was) Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad.(1 marks) 1 (a) (vii) ____ (/z/, /j/, /dz/) sound is present in the word reason. (1 marks)

Do as directed. 1 (b) (i) Change the voice. (Change the voice.)(1 marks) 1 (b) (ii) (a) bridge course, (b) bridge coarse, (c) brige course. (Select the correct spelling.)(1 marks) 1 (b) (iii) Which witch _______ which watch now? (Use proper form of the verb “to watch?)(1 marks) 1 (b) (iv) Give phonetic transcription of the word “church”(1 marks) 1 (b) (v) Dont disturb him while_________ (Complete the sentence with a clause using “to study?.)(1 marks) 1 (b) (vi) If I _____ a bird, I would fly. (Use proper form of the verb “to be”.)(1 marks) 1 (b) (vii) Shahrukh will follow all the instructions carefully. (Add a question tag.)(1 marks) 2 (a) Enlist the components of non-verbal communication. Discuss any two of them in detail.(7 marks) 2 (b) Your friend is going to make presentation on paralinguistics in a workshop. To help your friend, write its content outline and your tips for making it effective. (7 marks) 3 (a) Man’s inability to communicate is a result of his failure to listen effectively. Keeping this statement in mind, discuss in detail, the traits of a good listener.(7 marks) 3 (b) Explain,in detail, scanning and skimming as reading techniques.(7 marks) 4 (a) Before you teach John, you should learn John. Why is knowing audience and locale important for planning a presentation?(7 marks) 4 (b) Complete the following story and give appropriate title to it. Once upon a time, a girl lived in a small village. One dayshe decided to visit her grandma in the village crossing the jungle. She started her journey alone in the morning. When shereached the middle of the jungle she heard a big roar. She wasfrightened but she was very brave and intelligent. Before her, there stood agiant strange creature….(7 marks) 5 (a) Write a detailed note on types of listening.(7 marks) 5 (b) Your company decides to establish a plant in Vatva, Ahmedabad. You, as an engineer, are supposed to submit the report stating all possibilities and requirements for such. Write a report.(7 marks) 6 (a) Write a paragraph on Paperless World.(7 marks) 6 (b) What picture of the speaker is created in the poem “Goodbye Party for Miss Pushpa T S”?(7 marks) 7 (a) Amazo Engineering Solutions, Ayyappa Road, Chennai needs assistant engineers from all branches for its various projectsacross the country. Draft an application for the same stating your desirable place to work, education details etc. (7 marks) 7 (b) Give reasons for Pitcher?s surprise when Harvey Maxwell entered the office with his secretary.(7 marks)

studymumbai

StudyMumbai.com is an educational resource for students, parents, and teachers, with special focus on Mumbai. Our staff includes educators with several years of experience. Our mission is to simplify learning and to provide free education. Read more about us .

Related Posts:

  • Communication Skills: Assignment
  • Speaking & Listening skills for ICSE/ISC Students
  • Polysemy, Intertextuality and Symbolism: Advertising…
  • Evolution of Communication: ICSE Class 5 Social Studies
  • Employability Skills for Graduates

Reader Interactions

Leave a reply cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

ICSE CLASS NOTES

  • ICSE Class 10 . ICSE Class 9
  • ICSE Class 8 . ICSE Class 7
  • ICSE Class 6 . ICSE Class 5
  • ICSE Class 4 . ICSE Class 2
  • ICSE Class 2 . ICSE Class 1

ACADEMIC HELP

  • Essay Writing
  • Assignment Writing
  • Dissertation Writing
  • Thesis Writing
  • Homework Help for Parents
  • M.Com Project
  • BMM Projects
  • Engineering Writing
  • Capstone Projects
  • BBA Projects
  • MBA Projects / Assignments
  • Writing Services
  • Book Review
  • Ghost Writing
  • Make Resume/CV
  • Create Website
  • Digital Marketing

STUDY GUIDES

Useful links.

  • Referencing Guides
  • Best Academic Websites
  • FREE Public Domain Books

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Why include writing in engineering courses?

OWL logo

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Writing assignments incorporated into engineering courses allow students to both “write to learn” and “learn to write.” The concepts “writing to learn” and “learning to write” are integral to the study of how writing is used in all disciplines across the university. Writing studies scholars call this “writing across curriculum” because it promotes writing instruction in courses where students may not expect to encounter writing assignments and courses that students take throughout their undergraduate education.

When students write to learn, they are actively engaging with material by thinking through and articulating important concepts and issues addressed within the course. Writing in an engineering course will not only help students learn subject matter, but also enable them to synthesize and organize their thoughts to better retain information learned in the course. Furthermore, writing to learn enables students to make connections and understand the importance of the course beyond the classroom.

Assignments that emphasize “writing to learn” serve several purposes:

  • Promoting a deeper understanding of course material
  • Building critical thinking skills in students
  • Showing students linkages to real-world applications
  • Building students’ confidence in their ability to utilize technical content

Although the assignments provided in this resource primarily focus on “writing to learn,” students will also gain skills associated with “learning to write,” such as

  • Developing design skills
  • Practicing technical writing genres

For more information on “writing to learn” and “learning to write,” consult the OWL’s “Writing Across the Curriculum: An Introduction”

You might also check out the OWL vidcast, "An Introduction to Writing Across the Curriculum" on the Purdue OWL's YouTube Channel.

Using Bloom’s Taxonomy to Create Writing Prompts

This page provides examples for how to modify a standard end-of-chapter homework problem to craft write-to-learn exercises at all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, a framework for classifying educational learning objectives.

Types of Writing Assignments

This page provides an overview and description of many types of writing assignments suitable for use in engineering homework and class activities.

Writing Tips for Students

This page provides instructors with quick tips that they can give their students to help them navigate the writing process, from the pre-writing to revising stages.

Assessment and Feedback of Engineering Writing Assignments

These resources describe easy-to-implement grading and feedback schemes for engineering writing assignments. Grading is one of the key obstacles to implementing writing in engineering courses as class sizes may be large, or instructors/TAs may teach multiple sections. Therefore, this section also provides techniques for quicker streamlined grading practices.

This work was supported by a Research Initiation Grant in Engineering Education (RIGEE) grant from the Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) Division of the National Science Foundation (grant no. EEC-1340491). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

IMAGES

  1. ⇉Importance of Communication Skills for Engineers Essay Example

    importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

  2. Importance of communication skills for engineering students pdf free

    importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

  3. (PDF) Enhancing communication skills of engineering Students -A Study

    importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

  4. Communication is A Skill We Must Learn!

    importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

  5. Effective communication skills essay

    importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

  6. Importance of Effective Communication Free Essay Example

    importance of communication skills for engineering students essay

VIDEO

  1. The Importance of English Communication skills

  2. Communication skills Handwritten Notes|b.tech electronics and communication engineering

  3. What is the importance of communication skills for students?

  4. Importance of Communication

  5. BE/BTech/engineering 1st semester/engineering English communication/engineering English lessons/

  6. COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN ENGLISH (4300002)

COMMENTS

  1. The Importance of Communication Skills for the Modern Engineer

    Although the "overworked student" stereotype is still accurate, what most people don't realize is just how prominent and vital communication skills have become in the field of engineering. We can define "communication skills," as anything that has to do with communication. This broad definition includes writing, speaking and listening ...

  2. The importance of communication skills for engineers

    Strong communication skills in engineering have become imperative as the engineering industry continues to evolve. A report compiled by Marc J Riemer, who worked for UNESCO's International Centre for Engineering Education as an assistant editor for their publications, was named 'Communication Skills for the 21st Century Engineer'. He writes:

  3. Why is Communication Important for Engineers?

    Effective communication is essential to bridge the gap between these disciplines, ensuring that all team members understand each other's perspectives, requirements, and constraints. Engineers with strong communication skills can facilitate collaboration, streamline decision-making processes, and foster a harmonious work environment.

  4. Why Communications Skills Are Critical To Engineers

    Being able to clearly share ideas with others is an important quality in a leader. Engineers are creative types. They are responsible for dreaming up and building systems that companies will ...

  5. Role and Importance of Communication Competence for Engineering Students

    [Show full abstract] written communication skills are valuable for engineering students wishing to become successful and competitive in the international arena. Hence, engineering students must be ...

  6. PDF Communication Skills for the 21 Century Engineer

    Communication skills are an essential component in the education of engineering students to facili-tate not just students' education but also to prepare them for their future careers. In this article, the author discusses various important communication skills required of modern engineers, such as foreign language skills.

  7. The Importance of Communication in Engineering

    The Importance of Communication in Engineering. How one program is producing engineers with strong communication skills. The ability to write and speak well when applying for grants, fellowships and industry jobs is critical for engineers - they need to be able to translate their technical knowledge into lay terms and promote their skill set.

  8. PDF Preparing First-Year Engineering Students for a Career where

    In an 8-credit, themed Cornerstone of Engineering course offered at Northeastern University, first-year engineering students are offered an opportunity to build communication skills necessary for their career success through specially designed group and individual assignments as well as a semester-long open-ended group project.

  9. PDF Strategies for developing effective communication skills in Engineering

    Effective oral and written communication skills are teachable and learnable. Many of the strategies and assessment tasks outlined in this paper can be modified and used in existing technically based engineering units to develop the oral and written communication skills to assist students prepare for and successfully transition into the workplace.

  10. Improving Engineering Students' Technical Communication Skills

    In particular in regard to question #1, understanding of the connection of technical communication skills to STEM fields increased 35% from 3.03 to 4.11. Many students were unaware of the importance of memoranda and executive summaries as shown in question #3; this value nearly doubled (+89%) from 2.31 to 4.34.

  11. Why Communication for Engineers Is so Important

    Communication skills are vital to success in your personal life and your engineering career. Poorly delivered messages can turn into misunderstanding, frustration, or even a disaster. By practicing communication, you will understand more of what people say. Your family, friends, and co-workers will have the confidence to come to you when they ...

  12. Communication Skills for Engineers

    The most important thing that Engineers need to understand when it comes to communication is that graphical or technical communication is done in order to mitigate errors or minimise the possibility of mistakes - this is drilled into every Engineering student right from your first day in class. In contrast Business Communication is carried ...

  13. Essay on Importance of Communication for Students and Children

    Communication is the greatest importance. It is important to sharing out one's thoughts and feelings to live a fuller and happier life. The more we communicate the less we suffer and the better we feel about everything around. However, it is all the more necessary to learn the art of effective communication to put across ones point well.

  14. The importance of the concept of communication among future engineers

    The importance of communication skills in order to have career success and communication methods. 354 Mihaela Bucur et al. / Procedia Manufacturing 32 (2019) 348â€"355 Mihaela Bucur and Andreea Ban / Procedia Manufacturing 00 (2018) 000â€"000 7 Relatively average values have been identified in terms of the importance of communication ...

  15. (PDF) Communication Skills for Enhanced Employability of ...

    Employability skills have been defined as those "foundational skills on which job-specific skil ls can be. developed such as com munication, personal and interpersonal relationships, problem ...

  16. Communication Skill: A Prerequisite for Engineers

    Engineering students often underestimate the importance of communication skills and are unaware of the extent of report writing, presenting, and collaborating in teams they will be expected to ...

  17. Importance of Communication Skills for Engineers

    Importance of Communication Skills for Engineers. Communication is fundamental to all relationships. Poor communication is the most frequently cited cause of discontent within organisations and it would be reasonable to expect that most employers are seeking to appoint people with good communication skills. It is no surprise, then, that people ...

  18. Importance of Communication for Engineers

    Good managers invest significant amounts of time in setting their engineers up for success. Moreover, regular communication builds trust and makes it easier for all team members to do their jobs well. For engineers to be successful over the course of their careers, communication skills are just as important as technical knowledge.

  19. Communication Skills for First Year Engineering Students

    The course content for Basics of Communication Skills for first year (F.E) Engineering students: Understanding Communication. Organization Communication. Developing Communication Skills. Introduction to Modern Communication Media and Technology. Summarization and Comprehension. Vocabulary, Grammar, Aptitude. Basic Official Correspondence.

  20. PDF The Importance of Writing Skill to the Engineering Student

    KATIE A. GRANTHAM LOUGH is an Assistant Professor in the Interdisciplinary Engineering Department at the University of Missouri - Rolla (UMR). She holds a Bachelors, Masters, and PhD in Mechanical Engineering, all from UMR. Her research interests include risk mitigation and management, mechanical engineering design, and engineering education.

  21. Why include writing in engineering courses?

    This set of OWL resources aims to help engineering instructors and TAs create and assess a variety of short, low-overhead writing exercises for use in engineering courses. The primary focus here is on "writing to learn" assignments, which leverage writing to improve students' conceptual understanding of technical concepts. Writing exercises can be used in engineering courses to promote ...

  22. Engineering: An Important Importance Of Communication Skills In Engineering

    Communication is one of the most important factors in our lives. It dictates the relationships formed with the individuals in personal and professional lives. Effective communication provides a foundation for trust and respect to grow. It also helps better understand a person and the context of the conversation.

  23. PDF Importance of English Communication for Engineering Students From Rural

    The growing importance placed on oral communication skills by employers has been echoed internationally in these two three decades. Knowledge and technical know how are clearly important, but these requires to be presented with excellence. Effective communication re-enforces positive impression of the engineer.