In Dr. Ping Ren’s engineering courses, a design isn’t complete until it can be explained, documented, and defended, because that’s how professional problem-solving really works.
Ren’s 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, “Engineers are expected not only to solve technical problems, but also to communicate clearly with teammates, clients, and non-technical stakeholders.”
“Communication skills are embedded directly into real-world, customer-driven engineering projects,” Ren said, “including problem definition, design documentation, and project presentation.” 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’s lifecycle.
In Ren’s 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.
“This funding allows us to redesign and better align learning activities across interdisciplinary design and manufacturing, manufacturing processes, and additive manufacturing,” Ren said. “It 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.”
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.
