Importance of communication skills in architectural education to Raise the efficiency of professional practice of graduates

Abstract

communication skills are among the most essential skills that architecture graduates need, which help them to engage in the labor market. Communication skills are in visual and verbal formats. Visual communication skills are represented by report writing skills, executive graphics, free drawing...etc, while verbal communication skills are represented by the project team, public speaking skills for presenting projects, marketing skills, public relations...etc. After graduation and practicing the profession, many students suffer from a weakness in communication skills for many reasons, despite the emphasis on their importance by the organizing body responsible for practicing the profession such as (NAAB, RIBA, ABET ... etc.). This study follows the descriptive and analytical approach, whereby the measurement mechanism represented in the questionnaire is used to find out the graduates' proficiency degree in aspects of communication skills, in addition to knowing ways to develop the outputs of architectural education about these skills. The study sample included newly graduated engineers and faculty members who are directly related to the outputs of architectural education and its impact on professional practice and labor market requirements. The research came out with conclusions, that the graduates have efficiency in some of the aspects of communication skills and lack in other aspects. Based on the conclusions, the research came out with recommendations to cover the lack of knowledge in some aspects of communication skills in architectural education.

Keywords

• architectural education
• communication skills
• professional practice.

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