Teaching Transversal Skills For Engineering Students: A Book Review

Abstract

Teaching Transversal Skills for Engineering Students by Siara Isaac and Joelyn de Lima presents a comprehensive and practical framework for embedding transversal skills in engineering education through the innovative use of tangible objects and experiential learning. The book is based on the 3T PLAY project at EPFL, which was funded by the LEGO Foundation. It provides a robust conceptual foundation and practical activities to equip engineering students with essential non-technical competencies, including communication, sustainability, risk management, and emotional self-regulation. The book is valuable for educators seeking structured, evidence-informed, and engaging strategies to improve the acquisition of transversal skills. While its strengths lie in its playful pedagogical framework and practical guides, the book could further benefit from expanded coverage of cultural adaptability and broader case studies from non-European contexts. Nevertheless, the work stands as a pioneering contribution to engineering education and pedagogical innovation.