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When they graduate, they will play an important role in modernising the country.

However, for graduates to be better and effective engineers, they need more than simple knowledge from their university studies.

First they need to develop communication skills. The current market for engineers does not seek people of the "old" type, or the extremely bright variety who are capable of talking only to themselves and whose ideas fail to connect with others.

"New age" engineers must be able to communicate not only with their crews, but also with top project executives. Moreover, since many projects receive investment from international companies, English-speaking ability is essential.

Engineers must also work in teams; they are seldom solo performers. It is all very well to work and think alone on a small-scale project, like a university class assignment. But reality suggests there is more large-scale, than small-scale, work. Take the example of a computer engineer who has to write software for a big project. He or she would have no choice but to work with a team of 40 to 50 engineers.

Rookie engineers will have no "personal trainers" to help them learn the tasks and disciplines of real-life work, especially when that work is for international organisations. They need to be able to learn for themselves. When companies buy a new programme to run in their business, they will hand out a manual and say, "Get on with it."

So the next time you have a technical problem, fix it by picking up a manual and reading it. Do not pick up a phone and call for help.

This information was taken from a recent seminar entitled "The Role of Engineers in Sustainably Developing the Country", by NetONE Network Solution president Pornrapee Abhakorn and Siam Commercial Bank vice-president Charumporn Chotikasatien, organised by the Thammasat English Programme of Engineering.

 

By Watchara Saengsrisin

Daily Xpress