EdD Student Blog: Luke Dokter

Enhancing Transversal Skills in Engineering Education: Insights from SEFI 2024

I would like to share a recent opportunity I had to present my research at the 52nd Annual SEFI Conference, hosted by EPFL in Switzerland. SEFI, Europe’s leading forum for engineering education, offers a platform to exchange research and innovative pedagogical practices with colleagues from around the world.

My Institution Focused Study (IFS), presented at SEFI, explores academics’ perceptions of transversal skills (TS) within the new engineering programme at the Norwegian Defence University College. TS, often known as “soft skills,” such as critical thinking, communication, and teamwork, are vital for engineers facing the complexities of today’s global challenges.

Using Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenology, I gathered insights from academic staff on how TS are integrated into the curriculum and perceived within the educational framework. My findings revealed both implicit recognition of TS’s importance and the challenges associated with aligning them effectively within engineering education.

Presenting this research at SEFI allowed me to engage with global perspectives on how TS can be better integrated into engineering education. The feedback from fellow educators and researchers underscored the need for continued focus on balancing technical content with the cultivation of these essential skills. As the workplace continues to evolve, particularly with advancements in AI and other technologies, TS will play a crucial role in ensuring that engineers can adapt and succeed.

If you’re interested in learning more about my research or have thoughts on how we can better integrate transversal skills in engineering curricula, I’d love to hear from you. You can download my full study from this link.