Diversity of engineering leadership program design

Area of Science:

• Engineering Education Research
• Leadership Studies
• Higher Education Administration

Background:

• Engineering leadership programs are increasingly prevalent in North American universities.
• A comprehensive understanding of the diversity and commonalities among these programs is lacking.
• Variations in program origins, definitions, and structures can impact educational outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and compare the diversity of seven North American engineering leadership programs.
• To examine key aspects including origin stories, definitions, program structure, instructional strategies, research, and evaluation methods.
• To provide a foundational analysis for future research and development in engineering leadership education.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of seven engineering leadership programs across North America.
• Review of program documentation, including origin stories and definitions.
• Examination of program structures, pedagogical approaches, research integration, and evaluation frameworks.

Main Results:

• Significant diversity was observed in the foundational elements and operational strategies of the compared programs.
• Common themes emerged in instructional methods and the integration of leadership research.
• Variations in program evaluation approaches highlight different metrics for success.

Conclusions:

• Engineering leadership programs exhibit considerable heterogeneity, reflecting unique institutional contexts and goals.
• Standardization is not evident, suggesting a need for context-specific program design and evaluation.
• This comparative study offers valuable insights for the design, implementation, and assessment of future engineering leadership initiatives.