Leaders by Design: Engineering Design as a Tool for Developing Leadership Skills
Year: 2009
Editor: Norell Bergendahl, M.; Grimheden, M.; Leifer, L.; Skogstad, P.; Lindemann, U.
Author: Federighi, Marco; Clark, Anna
Series: ICED
Section: Design Education and Lifelong Learning
Page(s): 227-236
Abstract
We describe the development of a new, design-centered undergraduate program in the Department of Civil Engineering at UCL. We discuss how educational aims, criteria for admission, curriculum structure and content, and faculty profile have been re-designed in an integrated manner to deliver a very specific aim: to attract students from the top 10% of the ability range, and to equip them with the skills to become leaders at international level, in academia, government, business and society. In this program, learning Civil Engineering is no longer the principal aim, but the means by which a certain set of leadership skills are learned and developed. We also discuss the results of the program and the way we are introducing industrial and international issues.
Keywords: engineering design education, curriculum, leadership