Professional Development - Rice Center for Engineering Leadership

Unlike MBA or executive education programs, RCEL does not offer general business or management courses. By basing leadership, communication, and project management in an engineering and technical context, RCEL professional development students gain enhanced skills that are immediately applicable to their careers.

• Taught by the same Rice faculty who teach our RCEL students on campus.
• Delivered through Coursera on a flexible schedule.
• Designed specifically for professionals in engineering and technology.

RCEL and Rice Online Learning is offering three 100% online professional development specializations in Engineering Management and Leadership. Now on Coursera.org, these courses are designed and presented by the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership. The in-depth learning program is designed to teach students how to lead teams, communicate effectively, and manage projects efficiently. Through the courses, students develop strategies for using influence, exerting power effectively, developing problem-solving techniques, building strong interpersonal relationships, leading projects, and much more.

These professional development courses are designed for engineers who want to advance into leadership and management roles. By basing leadership, communication, and project management in an engineering and technical context, students develop skills immediately applicable to their careers. Created for working professionals, timing to complete each specialization is flexible. All coursework is online and can be accomplished in as little as three to five hours of study per week.

Engineers wanting to advance their careers must be able to lead teams effectively

Designed for professional engineers interested in advancing into leadership and management roles. Students explore their personal strengths and weaknesses as leaders and learn how to leverage and control these attributes when placed in charge of teams or projects. Participants learn to manage relationships with colleagues through proven coaching, mentoring, and conflict resolution techniques. The specialization includes goal-setting, planning and motivational methods, as well as tips on how to set up a creative team environment.

Course 1: Self Awareness and the Effective Leader
Course 2: Relationship Management
Course 3: Action Planning

Instructor:
David Van Kleeck, PhD
Professor in the Practice, Rice Center for Engineering Leadership

Build a toolkit of communication skills that will give you the knowledge and confidence to be an effective engineering leader

Professional career advancement requires the ability to clearly communicate complex ideas and technical plans, and engineers need to be strong “persuaders” to be recognized by both supervisors and clients. Instruction includes: designing and giving strong presentations; handling difficult conversations and crisis communications; communicating across cultures, genders, and generations; holding effective meetings; creating a personal brand and leadership presence; and developing writing skills immediately applicable in daily activities.

Course 1: Oral Communication for Engineering Leaders
Course 2: Interpersonal Communication for Engineering Leaders
Course 3: Writing Skills for Engineering Leaders

Instructors:
Beata Krupa, PhD
Lecturer in Professional and Engineering Communication, Rice Center for Engineering Leadership

Master strategies and tools to more effectively and successfully manage projects

Today’s professional environment is highly competitive, continuously changing, and difficult to manage. Employees rarely attain leadership positions without heading one or more projects or project segments early in their careers. Designed as an introduction to project management, students will prepare key project execution documents using a variety of proven templates. This specialization is targeted for engineers advancing to their first leadership positions, as well as those interested in moving up the leadership scale.

Course 1: Initiating and Planning
Course 2: Scope, Time and Cost Management
Course 3: Project Risk and Quality Management

Instructors:

Lead Teams, Communicate Effectively, Manage Projects Efficiently

Leadership training for your career

Professional Development Courses in Engineering Management, Leadership, and Communication

Specialization 1: Leadership Development for Engineers

Specialization 2: Communication Skills for Engineers

Specialization 3: Engineering Project Management