Cooperative oral presentations in higher education to enhance technical and soft skills in engineering students

Abstract

[Abstract]: Technical expertise and the development of soft skills are both necessary for higher education to be of good quality. However, it has been demonstrated that an overwhelming workload lowers student motivation and fosters a cursory approach to learning. This study sought to increase students' technical understanding of smart roads as well as their soft skills, notably their oral communication abilities, without placing an undue burden on them. The study was done for the civil engineering degree's 'roads' compulsory subject. The paper offers a case study wherein collaborative groups used oral presentations to apply, assess, enhance, and share their technical knowledge as well as to develop their soft skills. Students' perspectives were examined using a survey. The findings showed that most students increased their understanding of smart roads and their communication abilities. However, this method also helped the pupils improve other soft skills, including collaboration and emotional control.