SIG Engineering Skills - Complementing the Conventional: Engineering Competencies and Skills for an Uncertain Future

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

Abstract

This workshop, inspired by the SEFI SIG Engineering Skills' Position Paper on Skills (SEFI, 2025), focusesd on defining skills in curricula to meet the challenge of a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world. The position paper advocates for a comprehensive framework that equips future engineers with cognitive, social, and ethical competencies, alongside technical skills. Workshop participants, including engineering educators, policymakers, and industry professionals, engaged in reflection and peer-to-peer dialogue to map current skills and identify areas for improvement. The workshop facilitated the co-design of strategies to integrate technical, transferable, and transdisciplinary skills ("3T skills") - into practice, fostering engineers capable of addressing global and societal challenges with creativity, collaboration, and social responsibility. The workshop began with an overview of the key concepts from the position paper, followed by a self-reflective mapping activity. Small-group discussions allowed participants to compare experiences and identify gaps in skills development. The collaborative phase focused on practical strategies for embedding these skills, informed by the position paper's recommendations. The workshop concluded with a plenary discussion, where participants shared insights.

Authors 2

1. Matteo Di Benedetti

   University of Sheffield

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Sheffield

2. Ann-Kristin Winkens Aachen

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University