Integrating the liberal arts into the body of knowledge for civil engineering systems engineers

Abstract

The paper outlines the case for a body of knowledge for civil engineering systems engineers to include, alongside its primary focus on engineering and technology, supplementary strands from the liberal arts. A case is made for future thought leaders in civil engineering systems to be exposed to a body of knowledge that goes well beyond current UK engineering undergraduate content, providing the formation for a lifetime career in the design, planning, development and administration of infrastructure and cities systems. This would equip systems engineers with empathy and understanding of the social, economic, governance, cultural, philosophical, historic and business context behind complex civil engineering systems, and enhance skills in analysis, synthesis, collaboration, leadership, and communication skills. A set of exemplar modules is provided to complement the engineering and technology content of post-graduate systems courses.