Students who complete the course will receive a certificate in “Leadership for Scientists and Engineers” from Virginia Tech’s Office of Continuing and Processional Education (OCPE). Along with the certificate, students will also receive 5.6 continuing education units (CEU).
Matt Earnest is the assistant director of OCPE. He said, "As the scientific, design, and engineering challenges increase in complexity, we need scientists and engineers who are not just well-trained in their technical areas, but well-trained in leadership and management.”
Earnest explained that since engineering and science educations tend to focus on technical competencies versus leadership competencies, that the skills necessary for management positions can be lacking in the field. Perhaps that is why many engineers decide to take on a more technical role, instead of a management leadership role.
Earnest added, "The gap in preparedness for the challenges of managing people results in a lot of failure and stalled projects”
The course will run for six weeks bi-annually. However, registration for the first session is due on February 11th.
Moe Carrick and Jim Morris of Momentum Inc. designed the leadership curriculum. The pair acts as industry educators in the field of leadership, calling themselves “un-consultants”. Companies hire them to examine their leadership, strategies and culture with the goal of improving productivity and profitability.
If you’re a working engineer, taking a short six-week technical leadership course might be the perfect way to test the waters for pursuing a master’s degree. It can take time to get back into the swing of classroom education, so taking it slow with a low risk certificate course is a smart option. Alternatively, the program might act as a good refresher for those who have already taken a leadership based masters in the past.
However, a course of this size should not be treated as a substitute for a masters in engineering management, project management, technical management or industrial engineering. Though the course will be helpful, engineers may feel they need more leadership skills than the 6 weeks can offer. Taking on a full masters dedicated to improving an engineer’s leadership skills will do quite a bit more for those looking for career advancement.
Additionally, many technical-based leadership masters are available online. Though online communication is more challenging than one-on-one tutoring on-campus, online education has come a long way in bringing a personal touch to the digital realm. More importantly, online programs offer more flexibility with respect to curriculum and scheduling for busy professionals.
With notes from Dana Cruikshank Virginia Tech News.