A Seminar for Real‐time Interactive Simulation of Engineering Projects: An Innovative Use of Video‐conferencing and IT‐based Educational Tools

Graduate-level programs in project management continue to attract many engineers looking for tools and methods to help them deal with the complexity of their activities. In order to meet this demand, many universities are experimenting with new teaching methods, based on information and communications technologies. This article presents a teaching approach which consists in recreating the organizational context in which engineers generally have to manage their projects. In practical terms, it is a full-day seminar that involves simulating a project from its launch until product delivery. Like most real projects, the activity takes place at more than one location simultaneously and relies on the intensive use of communications technologies, including video-conferencing, to coordinate the work teams. Although the primary client base is graduate students, this method is just as relevant for professional engineers and undergraduate students. Over 400 participants have taken part in this seminar to date.