Embedding Systems Engineering Practices into Systems Engineering Classes

The objective of this paper is to discuss the effect of enforcing Systems Engineering (SE) principles and practices into course work that can enhance students’ understanding of the issues in systems integration and project management. In the process of educating SE students, professors need to ensure that students understand the importance of obtaining such skills as effective communications, good leadership, excellent project management, strong collaboration skills, high ability to adapt to multi-culture environments, and sufficient risk management ability. In addition, SE students also need to adopt two fundamental Industrial Engineering/SE principles, simplification and standardization, into their work. The issue is how we embed the requirements of these skills and SE principles into course work to educate SE students. This paper intends to discuss the ways to teach students with SE principles and practices through a course called Systems Engineering Concepts. The discussion also points out the ways to enhance the education and training being offered to the SE students in order to obtain an adequate level of SE skills.