The
University of Minnesota provides engineering students with the technical knowledge that makes them leaders in their field--and now, the school gives them an edge in business savvy, too.
The university recently began offering workshops to engineers and scientists on business topics like networking, leadership, teamwork, and creativity, through an initiative called the
Gemini Project.
Named after the endowment provided by an anonymous donor who had once been an engineering student himself, the Gemini Project will present the workshops every other Wednesday throughout the school year, focusing on the types of skills that will be useful for engineering professionals. For example, one talk about office dynamics will provide tips on building and maintaining strong workplace relationships.
"We've seen over and over that what makes you successful in your job isn't necessarily your ability to do the task at hand, it's your ability to lead others, think strategically, and meet an organization's goals," says Tess Surprenant, Gemini Chair and Senior Fellow of the Technological Leadership Institute at the university's
College of Science and Engineering.
She adds that the information presented in Gemini workshops isn't radical, since they're covering material that's standard for many business schools. But targeting the material specifically for engineering students is a new twist that's becoming a national trend. Every large engineering school is trying to boost these types of professional abilities among its students, Surprenant says, because there's growing awareness of the importance of business skills.
The university is on its way to becoming an example for others to follow. The first Gemini workshop was well attended, considering that it was held only two weeks after school started, Surprenant notes. The program is hoping to grow attendance from its current average of 30 students to over 100 per workshop.
Source: Tess Surprenant, University of Minnesota
Writer: Elizabeth Millard