Author(s):
Brito, Claudio da Rocha 
; Ciampi, Melany M. ; Amaral, Luís ; Vasconcelos, Rosa
Date: 2012
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/19767
Origin: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Subject(s): Labor market; Project based program; Information society; Social skills; Curriculum development
Description
Technical skill is associated with understanding and proficiency in a particular type of activity,
especially those that are involved in methods, processes and procedures. As an example, one can
take the training of the engineer, who - mostly - is focused moreover, on calculations,
simulations and projects, characterizing it as an individual, above all, objective. Since the human
ability can be understood as the ability of individuals to interact with others to form similar one
that respects his fellow and nature this individual is aware of his/her own attitudes, opinions and
beliefs about others. Realizing the existence of other attitudes, opinions and beliefs different
from his/hers, the individual is able to understand them. By becoming aware of the need to
combine their technical skills (to run its specific activity) with the human ability (to develop
proactive human relationship), this professional develops the conceptual ability, which is directly
associated with the coordination and integration of all attitudes and interests of the organization
that owns or provides the service. In other words, not technical enough to be good, if not able to
understand comprehensively the meaning of the activity that is being exerted, through these three
interconnected skills. This aspect is the main one in terms of engineering formation for 21st
Century Labor Market for engineers. The goal of this work is to show the engineering programs
developed by COPEC with the objective to form engineers ready for the present labor market.
The most successful program is the one based on Scientific Research Projects.
