Teaching “soft” skills in Software Engineering

Abstract

Soft skills are not sufficiently attended in early academic courses in the software engineering high level studies. Computer engineering students entering the fourth and fifth year of their studies possess a comprehensive amount of theoretical and applied coursework. Nevertheless, a gap in their study program exists, and it is found in hands-on experience in professional development. The instructors at the ULL offer innovative Software Engineering coursework which remedies this situation. This approach offers students practical experience in supervision, project management, quality control and decision-making. Student teams made up of 4 or 5 members are formed at the beginning of the academic year and they are responsible for developing a real project for a real client. The product will be delivered upon project completion. The project evaluation is based on formal technical reviews of prototypes produced during the project life cycle. A key factor in the success of the program is in the increased motivation exhibited by the students. Although in past years students in this degree program acted as simply receptors of information, this educational alternative confirms that students are now achieving higher performance and are better prepared to enter the engineering profession.