The poor state of professional communication skills

integrating into engineering education in Higher and

Tertiary Universities around Zimbabwe

Sydney Mutero (H160076)

Technical and Communication Skills for

Engineers

November 02 2016

Introduction
1) Subject:
A research and analysis of all engineering courses in universities in
Zimbabwe resulted in the discovery of the poor state of professional
communication skills integrating into engineering education. Most
engineering students tend to give more focus to technical subjects which can
then divert them from the knowledge and awareness of the professional
technical communication skills. In addition current programs do not provide
sufficient technical communication skills.
2) Purpose:
Upon a survey, it was discovered that the engineering students were facing
challenges during their project presentations, technical report writing and
even during their internship where this expertise would be needed, which
would then affect progress negatively in their work places. The suggested
measures on the methods of educating the students will help reduce the poor
professional communication skills at a significant scale.
3) Scope:
The report reveals the information on the method of education being used by
the universities on the engineering students. It then unveils the problems
associated with the lack of standard professional communication skills as a
result of the current educating method.

Data Analysis
A sample was taken from 6 different universities. At each university 5
students were picked at random from engineering department. They wrote an
examination based on technical and communication skills and their
performance were observed. The number of students passed an examination
per each university were recorded and tabulated as shown below. In addition,
time allocated to the Technical and Communication Skills subject per
university per week and the performance of students were recorded and
tabulated.
University

No of
students No of students Percentage
passed
an wrote
an
examination
examination

UZ
HIT
CUT
NUST
BINDURA U
MSU
TOTAL

1
2
1
1
3
2
10

5
5
5
5
5
5
30

20
40
20
20
60
40
33.3

University

Time allocated to the No of students

subject/ Hrs.
Exhibiting the skill
per stream
3
28
2
21
1
9
1.5
15
5
40
4
34

UZ
HIT
CUT
NUST
GZ
MSU

The collected statistics were then used to construct the following chat;
45
40

40
34

35
30

28

25

No of students

21

20
15

15
10

5
0

CUT

NUST

HIT

UZ

Time allocated/Hrs.

MSU

GZ

The relationship between the degree of excellence in terms of exhibiting the

professional technical communication skills and the time allocated to the subject
was also analyzed and the overall trend was found;

Degree
Of
Excellence

Time allocated to the subject / Hrs.

Recommendations:
We saw that 33.3% of students passed an examination and we observed that there
is poor performance in technical and communication skills. So graduates still lack
communication skills and programs need to incorporate more opportunities for
students to develop communication skills under every engineering program. The
universities should give reasonable or equal time to Communication Skills subject
in the same way as it is done in other technical subjects. There should be created
some Communication Skills Clubs and awareness campaigns so as to keep the
consciousness of the importance of the subject in the students minds.