In Dr. Ping Ren鈥檚 engineering courses, a design isn鈥檛 complete until it can be explained, documented, and defended, because that鈥檚 how professional problem-solving really works.
Ren鈥檚 approach addresses a persistent challenge in engineering education: graduates may leave with strong technical skills but limited experience translating project requirements into engineering decisions. As Ren explained, 鈥淓ngineers are expected not only to solve technical problems, but also to communicate clearly with teammates, clients, and non-technical stakeholders.鈥
鈥淐ommunication skills are embedded directly into real-world, customer-driven engineering projects,鈥 Ren said, 鈥渋ncluding problem definition, design documentation, and project presentation.鈥 Students are asked not only to communicate clearly, but to use customer input to shape design choices, trade-offs, and technical decisions throughout a project鈥檚 lifecycle.
In Ren鈥檚 courses, engineering students are expected to:
Translate customer needs into engineering decisions
Document and justify their work
Present and review designs
With new support from the Engineering Information Foundation (EiF), including a $25,000 award, Ren is leading a curriculum initiative that weaves communication and professional skills into core manufacturing and design engineering courses.
鈥淭his funding allows us to redesign and better align learning activities across interdisciplinary design and manufacturing, manufacturing processes, and additive manufacturing,鈥 Ren said. 鈥淚t also supports hands-on project implementation by enabling the purchase of materials, tools, and equipment needed for students to build, test, and iterate on their designs.鈥
The result is an engineering learning environment where communication is part of technical work from the outset, reflecting how professional engineering is practiced and preparing students for the realities of collaborative, industry-driven design.
The Engineering Information Foundation (EiF) makes grants to support initiatives that enhance communication skills and increase the number of women in engineering.
For more information, please contact Emily Sanders, Executive Director, at ejsanders2@outlook.com.
