Professional Liaison Program in Undergraduate Civil Engineering

Abstract

A liaison program between a university civil engineering department and civil engineers engaged in professional practice can be used to introduce undergraduate students to real engineering problems. A liaison program at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, places second-year civil engineering students on a technical project assignment with a local professional engineering office. This program, implemented as part of a course on communications in civil engineering, has the following functions: (1) It exposes students to the civil engineering profession at an early stage of their undergraduate education; (2) it provides an introduction to engineering problem solving; (3) it involves students in a real civil engineering project that is motivated by professional practice; and (4) it stresses the importance of communications skills in civil engineering. The program has proved to be successful in fostering an early association with professional civil engineers outside of a university setting. It also provides the students with an appreciation for the many facets of professional practice, and approaches to the solution of civil engineering problems. The program has been well received by both students and professional engineers.