Embedding leadership development in construction engineering and management education

The design and implementation of a professional development program for students in construction engineering and management curricula is presented. This program successfully introduces the need for students and faculty to integrate the development of professional skills and traits with the provision of a sound foundation in technical skills. A useful model has been presented that will allow similar educational programs to be developed at other universities that will capitalize on existing activities and require minimal added burden on faculty to implement. Most programs develop soft skills by emphasizing communication skills and developing them through written and oral presentations. Courses on ethics and negotiation are also common ways to develop these skills, by providing opportunities for students to think on their own and interact with others. The ABET 2000 criteria have identified 11 educational outcomes that are important for accreditation of an engineering program (ABET 2000).