Developing Communication Competency for Engineers: The Case of the Hydropower Sector in Bhutan

Communication is considered a core engineering activity engaged by engineers. In this article, we share our communication experience while working in the hydropower sector in Bhutan. The types of communication engaged by engineers in the hydropower sector in Bhutan are both written and verbal communication. Written communication includes writing proposals to obtain approval, business letters, and reports to communicate with outside agencies and senior-level management, respectively, using computer application programs. We have shared guidance on how to write business letters for effective communication based on our experience. Verbal communication includes presentations to the management using Microsoft PowerPoint software and intercultural communication in many languages and local dialects with work colleagues and staff. We also present the various technologies, such as mobiles, phones, Internet, Enterprise Resource Planning Software (SAP), and Zoom and Skype computer application programs, used in the hydropower sector in Bhutan. Since this article provides vital insight into the communication competency of engineers working in the hydropower sector in Bhutan, we have also made recommendations to inform the engineering education curriculum to reduce the gap between engineering education and practice, especially in Bhutan. Other countries with similar context can also use it to inform their engineering education curriculum to bridge the gap between education and practice.