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Topic: Journal and Summary
Topic 1: What is Engineering?
Summary: The objective of this part of the course is to portray Engineering as
defined by Engineering Australia while identifying the basic concepts and laws involved in
engineering as a science. It further identifies the Engineer’s social responsibility about
positive impact on access to life’s basics in the developing world, and the creation of
appropriate technology- economically and in terms of environmental functionality.
Journal: I would love this to be a program that integrates the concept of industrial
engineering into its approach to the Engineering discipline. This, in essence, because would
provide the tool to design efficient and effective processes, as well as enabling the
mathematical and statistical analysis of problems, to design a problem-solving methodology.
This aspect also helped me understand that, as an engineer, I need a mindset that applies
fundamentals to produce solutions.
Topic 2: The Engineering Method
Summary: This course aspect has the objective of outlining the steps and
requirements involved in the engineering process, such as (a) systems thinking, which
identifies problem elements through attention to their components and boundaries, and an
understanding of cross-boundary interactions, (b) reporting, which involves (courtesy of a
final report, recommendation of requirements to customers, (c) writing skills, i.e. ability to
write clearly and concisely, (d) reflective practice, i.e. journal-keeping while learning in
stages through the project.
Journal: Through this course, I want to be able to solve engineering problems such
that the solution addresses a need. Defining such a problem, however, was a difficulty faced
by my project team on this course. The problem is the need to be addressed, and not the
solution itself. I’m therefore looking for an engineering method that provides a structured
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approach that ensures that needs are met while generating the necessary information. I’m
also interested in being enabled, through engineering training, to handle the challenge of
effective problem management along with resources such as time, money, equipment, and
people. I plan to consolidate on skills and knowledge by recording immediately after a
project, ideas and knowledge gained, while still fresh in memory. Toward developing my
desired skills, this course has helped me understand and appreciate the importance of
communication skills.
Topic 4: Learning To Be An Engineer
Summary: The objective of this part of the course is to present the attributes that
contribute to an individual’s employability as an engineer, given the evolution of the
profession. Attributes encapsulate the combination of integrity, commitment, and reliability,
interwoven with motivation, enthusiasm, and common sense. These are, also, incorporated
with positive self-esteem, adaptability, personal presentation, and ability to deal with
pressure. An engineer must be able to strategize his learning procedure because of sight,
sound, and action. He must further be able to improve through study habits and the
environment, manage time and aim high. He must celebrate and improve on his strengths
and weaknesses. His experience, knowledge, and understanding must be brought to bear,
relating these to his learning style- which also must incorporate elements of spatial ability,
surface and deep learning, and reflectiveness.
Journal: I want to emerge from this program as a professional who can use my skills
productively. Being mathematically and scientifically inclined, my earlier background was in
industrial engineering, as it encapsulates a wide range of disciplines. Sequel to graduation,
my most enjoyable job has involved usage of analysis to create a determined outcome, such
as software programme or budget. I have, however, desired to focus on a project-based
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industry, be it in the context of involvement in innovative projects, project development, or
even consulting. I’m hoping my present studies will help me achieve this.
Topic 4: Understanding Communication
Summary: This course aspect has the objective of elucidating recognised
competencies required for successful performance as an engineer. These include: (a)
effective use of verbal communication, (b) fluency in written and spoken English, (c) clarity
and conciseness in communication, (d) self-management, (e) interaction with persons in
various fields of expertise, (f) commitment to doing one’s best, (g) honesty, and (h) problem
solving. This section further makes clear the importance of the fact that contextual factors
impact communication, which in turn impacts the design, transmission and interpretation of
a message.
Journal: I have realised experientially that communication is vital in teamwork.
Engineering, not just a matter of technical work, entails how to listen, persuade, negotiate
and cooperate with information flow at all levels. It also involves ability to exhibit your
work, and the manner in which it adds value to an establishment. This is important because
at managerial level, it is vital that we can convey to other experts the goal of an engineering
project, so as to make them work towards that objective. I believe that today’s employers
need the following qualities in their engineering personnel: (10) team players, (2)
adaptability, (3) practicality, (4) integrity, (5) enthusiasm, (6) leadership potential, (7) verbal
and written communication & interpersonal skills, (8) innovativeness & results, (9)
responsibility. These, respectively and in order of desirability, are scored excellent for (1) –
(4), fair for (5) – (7), and good for (8) – (9). I believe it will enhance the richness, as well as
ability to develop skills and knowledge on this programme, if special attention is paid to this
inclination that present-day employers have. The activities of this part of the programme
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have helped me further develop the understanding that client and project team must
communicate effectively from a project’s earliest stage.
Topic 5: Enabling Skills for Engineers
Summary: This section has the objective of laying out the framework that
incorporates the various elements that comprise an engineer’s enabling skill. Simultaneously,
it points out the negative elements within the framework namely (in the context of
communication), presumption, lack of communication, prejudiced or selective hearing, and
aversion to dialogue. Active listening, also a vital part of this (communication competence)
scheme, while professionalism, time management, ability to reflect, prioritise, identify
success barriers, are encapsulated in the achievement requirement structure of an engineer’s
enabling skill. This, in addition to the engineer being responsible, and able to apply
timesheets in his scheduling. Teamwork is yet another dimension of this framework, multidimensional in its elements, such as negotiation ability through conflict or dispute resolution,
proper leadership style as an inspirational/transformational model. High performance
through good communication, time efficiency, accountability, and defined member roles, all
harmonised with procedures, purpose, participants, style and timing, are another essential
branch of this engineering competence structure. Again, issues worth recognising as negative
features (and hence to be avoided) are highlighted – such as free-ride and know-it-all
attitudes, mismatched expectations, and responsibility-shirking through task allocation.
Journal: I really want this to be a programme that develops me through participatory
involvement of colleagues, in a manner similar to the attitude of professionals in the office,
where people don’t just come to be allocated a task, but rather, actively incline themselves
towards figuring out solutions to engineering problems. I have also, through this course,
become aware of the delicate distinction in terminologies referring to teams or groups, in an
engineering context.
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Topic 6: Information Skills
Summary: This part of the course espouses the goal of instilling the ability to
properly define the needed information for an engineering project. This, through the
recognition of various categories of information sources. In this context, the latter have been
functionally recognised as management-related, courtesy of: (a) relevant records, (b)
indexing/cataloguing, (c) referencing and citing. Colleagues, stakeholders, tutors and peers,
are further harmonised with this structure, while clients, documents and GIS systems are also
interwoven with the framework- which in addition entails evaluation of sources for accuracy,
relevance, date, source, and credibility.
Journal: I desire to be able to manage huge amounts of information in complex
projects. Developing this ability is even more imperative in the present (internet) age, where
application and sourcing of appropriate information towards a project’s desired objective,
without derailing the project’s goal, is an increasing challenge. The use and
acknowledgement of sources has been very helpful to me towards realising this aspect of my
aim regarding the course.
Topic 7: Problem-solving Tools
The objective of this aspect of the subject is a concise expression of the key aspects
of problem solving tools in engineering. These include generation of alternative solutions,
stakeholder opinion and involvement, interdisciplinary approach on complex problems,
socio-ecological and systems-thinking.
Journal: I have been afforded opportunity by this programme to have more practice at
doing presentations- which has hitherto been a weakness of mine. I have been able to
recognise various elements of my inadequacy in this area. This programme has also thrown
up the challenge of bringing structure to a project.
Topic 8: Sustainable Engineering
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This course aspect’s objective aims to facilitate an understanding of the elements of
an engineer’s practice which promote social, economic and environmental sustainability.
Parameters of assessment of the latter are briefly elucidated and explained, as part of the
objective.
Examples include ecological rucksack/footprint, resource intensity, EIA and
lifecycle assessment. Cost-benefit analysis, as an aspect of economically sustainable
engineering is explained, essentially as the assignment of values to project costs and
benefits, to determine project viability. Socially sustainable engineering is explained as
organisational involvement in the health and wellbeing of the community, consumers and
staff.
Journal: Sustainability engineering, as an area of study interest to me (in a previous
academic programme), has been further illuminated in my understanding through this part of
the course. I now appreciate more, that every effort regarding sustainability is relevant,
however little. Further, that a product’s value is determined not only by its cost, but by its
benefit to society and environment.
Topic 9: Ethics in Engineering
This course aspect has the object of asserting that there is a responsibility, owed by
the professional engineer, to his community, institution, colleagues, and his own conscience.
This objective itemises ethical points which more or less overlap across professional bodies
used as illustration, such as Engineers Australia, IPENZ and IEEE. There are the recurring
themes of honesty, integrity, conscience, community and environmental interest,
professionalism and competence. Fairness, professional improvement and cooperation, are
also mentioned as vital elements of the ethics. The engineer’s international effectiveness is
impacted by an understanding of these elements especially in a cultural context.
Journal: I am conscious of the engineering challenges which affect my work as a
professional engineer. Further, that my working conditions are likely to be such that
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decisions are beyond my control, which may affect the quality of results. I now realise that
an understanding of ethics (courtesy of this subject) will help me under such circumstances,
where decision-making may be difficult.
Topic 10: Managing Engineering Projects
Summary: This course aspect’s objective acquaints one with the main stages of an
engineering project, namely, feasibility, conceptual design, detailed design, and
implementation. It also explains environmental, construction and design risks (along with
project activity interdependency), as elements of risk management in engineering projects.
Knowledge-sharing and management also feature, whereby the former involves manuals,
workshops and seminars, while management controls potential loss of information. Email,
text messaging and networking sites, among others, constitute the learning community
environment in this concept. Quality Management elements include process and systems
approach, leadership, customer focus, supplier relationships, and continual improvement.
Purpose, procedures, people process, improvement plans, comprise other management
elements- including performance indicators.
Journal: Engineering work takes place in technical and social systems, whose
interaction is necessary for the success of engineering projects. I have found knowledgemanagement plan useful, particularly regarding information preservation, in the face of staff
departure from organisations.
Topic 11: Communicating Information
Summary: The objective of this aspect lays out the integration of approach and
context as the main channels of information communication. The essential ramifications of
these, such as conventions and mechanisms, goals, jargon and information exchange, were
identified as elements of professional context. In the same vein, approach incorporates
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professional opinion and factual communication- ramified under accuracy, accessibility,
focus and target and completeness- and these are also vital aspects.
Elements of visual, written and oral communication are exhaustively elucidated,
while planning of presentations is also noted as comprising elements identifiable and
linkable to the above-described framework.
Journal: Engineering, particularly at management level, demands ability to
communicate formally, in an official manner. The presentation involved can sometimes be
comprehensive in its requirement structure, and this I find challenging.
Topic 12: Your Engineering Future
Summary: This course aspect’s objetive portrays engineering future as a function of
relationship between globalisation and emerging engineering fields such as animatronics,
sustainable engineering, materials science( to name a few), in an interplay with skill shortage
acting as a pull factor to skilled migration. Career management (as impacted by elements of
management approach), career plan, initiative and professional development, are also put in
perspective, especially in relation to ensuring better service to the community, enhancement
of effectiveness, and maintenance of technical competence. Development practices are
noted as inclusive of private study, service to the profession, presentation and teaching.
Journal: I expect, through this programme, to be able to re-evaluate my engineering
career to give me the opportunity to find new ways of developing my career. I am able to
consolidate through the knowledge gained in this course, by offering a more complete
engineering approach to the engineering labour market. This, particularly in the context of
project development.
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