TY - JOUR
T1 - Global engineering teams - a programme promoting teamwork in engineering design and manufacturing
AU - Oladirana, M. T.
AU - Uziaka, J.
AU - Eisenbergb, M.
AU - Schefferc, C.
N1 - Funding Information:
The GET programme usually encounters some challenges; the main one being project acquisition from industrial partners. The coordinators of GET continuously market and promote the programme concept to industries in participating countries. However, the number of contracts signed annually does not reflect the huge effort expended in reaching out to industry. Also, contract negotiations can be difficult, especially when the industrial partner tries to take control and drive the project. Other funding agencies are also approached for financial assistance and only the German Academic Exchange Service has been supportive.
PY - 2011/6/8
Y1 - 2011/6/8
N2 - Engineering graduates are expected to possess various competencies categorised into hard and soft skills. The hard skills are acquired through specific coursework, but the soft skills are often treated perfunctorily. Global Engineering Teams (GET) is a programme that promotes project-oriented tasks in virtual student teams working in collaboration with industry partners. Teamwork is a major success factor for GET as students always work in groups of varying sizes.A questionnaire-based survey of the 2008 cohort of GET studentswas conducted to assess teamwork, communication and conflict resolution among group members. The results confirmed that deliverables are readily achieved in teams and communication was open. A challenge of using virtual teams is the availability of high-speed Internet access.TheGETprogramme shows that it is possible to deliver engineering design and manufacturing via industry/university collaboration. The programme also facilitates multidisciplinary teamwork at an international level.
AB - Engineering graduates are expected to possess various competencies categorised into hard and soft skills. The hard skills are acquired through specific coursework, but the soft skills are often treated perfunctorily. Global Engineering Teams (GET) is a programme that promotes project-oriented tasks in virtual student teams working in collaboration with industry partners. Teamwork is a major success factor for GET as students always work in groups of varying sizes.A questionnaire-based survey of the 2008 cohort of GET studentswas conducted to assess teamwork, communication and conflict resolution among group members. The results confirmed that deliverables are readily achieved in teams and communication was open. A challenge of using virtual teams is the availability of high-speed Internet access.TheGETprogramme shows that it is possible to deliver engineering design and manufacturing via industry/university collaboration. The programme also facilitates multidisciplinary teamwork at an international level.
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U2 - 10.1080/03043797.2011.573534
DO - 10.1080/03043797.2011.573534
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79958799620
SN - 0304-3797
VL - 36
SP - 173
EP - 186
JO - European Journal of Engineering Education
JF - European Journal of Engineering Education
IS - 2
ER -