2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Integrating Soft Skills into Core Engineering Courses Through Didactic Workshops

Presented at Multidisciplinary Engineering Division (MULTI) Technical Session 11: Teaching and Learning through Effective Writing and Communication

In a globalized and rapidly evolving professional context, soft skills play a critical role in engineering education by supporting effective communication, teamwork, adaptability, and ethical decision-making. Accreditation frameworks such as ABET emphasize student outcomes related to these professional competencies; however, their systematic integration into core engineering curricula remains challenging. This study examines the implementation of structured, didactic soft skills workshops embedded within a third-year core engineering course at the E.S. Witchger School of Engineering at Marian University in Indianapolis, involving a multidisciplinary cohort of undergraduate students.
The intervention consisted of twelve weekly workshops aligned with course content and two ABET student outcomes related to communication and teamwork. A total of 38 students across two course sections participated in the study. A pre–post survey design was used to examine changes in students’ self-reported perceptions of soft skills development and the relevance of these competencies within a technical course context. Results indicate positive shifts in students’ perceptions of selected soft skills and a stronger perceived connection between professional competencies and technical course content compared to standalone skills-focused experiences. Students also reported increased awareness of the importance of these competencies for professional engineering practice.
This work presents a feasible and scalable instructional model for integrating soft skills into core engineering courses without displacing technical content. The findings contribute to the engineering education literature by illustrating an accreditation-aligned pedagogical approach that supports the concurrent development of technical and professional competencies in multidisciplinary learning environments.

Authors

Dr. William Daniel Moscoso Marian University [biography]

Dr. William D. Moscoso-Barrera is currently an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Marian University. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Medicine and Biomedicine from the University of Navarra (Spain). Prior to joining Marian, he completed postdoctoral research at the University of Texas at Austin, contributing to the development of focused ultrasound neurostimulation technologies, including wearable systems for peripheral nerve stimulation for pain management and brain stimulation to improve sleep, within projects supported by NIH and DARPA.

Dr. Moscoso has over 12 years of teaching experience across multiple engineering disciplines, including biomedical, electronic, mechanical, industrial, and computer engineering. His teaching emphasizes active learning, interdisciplinary approaches, and the development of communication, teamwork, and decision-making skills. His research spans biomedical technologies for sleep, memory, disability, chronic pain, and mental health. He is the inventor of five patents in biomedical and assistive technologies and has led innovation workshops integrating engineering, design thinking, and STEM education.
Orlando de Jesús Cárcamo Berrio http://orcid.org/https://0009-0005-6016-6138 Universidad de La Guajira [biography]

I am Orlando de Jesús Cárcamo Berrío, a Colombian university professor at the Universidad de La Guajira in Riohacha, Colombia. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages from Universidad de La Guajira and master’s degrees in English Language Teaching from Universidad del Norte and ICT-Mediated Teaching from Universidad de San Buenaventura, both in Colombia. I have experience teaching educational technology, digital tools, and language-related courses in teacher education programs, working mainly with undergraduate students preparing to become educators.

My academic and research interests focus on technology-enhanced learning, digital pedagogy, online assessment, virtual education, and the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence in higher education. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Innovation and Digital Culture, at Universidad de Cartagena, with doctoral research focused on students’ perceptions and learning experiences in virtual learning environments. My recent work also explores the ethical, sustainable, and context-sensitive integration of digital technologies and generative AI in initial teacher education.
Cesar Augusto Guaqueta Universidad de Cartagena [biography]

César Augusto Guaqueta is a Colombian teacher and researcher with experience in teaching English as a foreign language in both rural and urban contexts, as well as in higher education. He holds postgraduate training at the master’s level and is currently a candidate for a PhD in universidad de cartagena based on Doctorate in Educational Innovation and Digital Culture. His professional trajectory has been characterized by the development of innovative pedagogical proposals focused on the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), gamification, and an intercultural approach to English language learning. He has served as a tutor in the Todos a Aprender Program (PTA), leading processes of pedagogical support, curriculum strengthening, and the design of training strategies aimed at improving educational quality.
Dr. Erik Jose Vera University of Cartagena [biography]

I am Erik José Vera Mercado, a Colombian educator and researcher serving as Rector of a public educational institution in Girón, Santander (Colombia). I hold a Ph.D. in Engineering from Universidad Industrial de Santander, an MBA from Universidad Santo Tomás, and dual degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Recognized by Minciencias as Senior Researcher, I have over 20 years of experience in education and graduate teaching. My research focuses on technology acceptance, e-government, sustainable energy, and innovative pedagogy, with international experience at Université Paris 13 and the University of Delaware. I will pursue a Master's in Computer Science at Indiana University in 2026
Dr. Johann Alexander Vera Marian University [biography]

I am Johann Alexander Vera Mercado, an educator, engineer, and researcher with extensive teaching experience in engineering, programming, languages, and graduate education. I have taught at Marian University, Purdue University, Universidad de Cartagena, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Industrial de Santander, and Universidad Santo Tomás, working with undergraduate and graduate students in hydraulics, surveying, Python programming, digital educational resources, civil and mechanical engineering, mechatronics, and Spanish language instruction. I hold a Ph.D. and M.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Purdue University, an MBA from Universidad Santo Tomás, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Universidad del Cauca. My work connects engineering education, hydrology, environmental modeling, technology, and innovative pedagogy.

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