Community engagement in engineering education : needs and learning outcomes

Engineers usually manage development projects such as dams, weirs and bridge constructions. All of which require community engagement at least during the planning and construction stages of the project. All projects of this nature undertake mandatory or voluntary environmental impact assessments (EIA) before commencing the on ground activities. So, an engineer is no longer just an engineer but also a development professional. They have to understand the role of the community in project development, and must understand the principles and processes of community engagement. Engineers need to be properly trained for community engagement during either undergraduate or post-graduate education or a similar standing of professional training. The purpose of this paper is to give an outline of the key principles and processes of community engagement: it highlights the need for community engagement components in curricula and its learning outcomes in engineering education.