Engineers face many challenges in their line of work – even more so in this day and age. Being prepared to adapt to new technologies and address pressing social concerns creates the necessity for developing and maintaining a constant set of major technical skills that require updating on a regular basis.  To stay competitive engineers should consider the many options for professional development there are and short courses are a great way to ensure they stay up-to-date with new industry standards and technological breakthroughs. To help you navigate the vast number of choices, here is a list of 10 short courses to refresh your engineering skills. For more engineering advice, news and career opportunities subscribe to NewEngineer.com here.

Non-linear Modelling, Certificate

The course from the Delft University of Technology takes linear modelling one step further. This course expands on the skill set of non-linear structural modelling and analysis in the framework of the finite element method. This is particularly helpful for engineers in solving problems from their daily practice. Weekly lectures and practicals offer theoretical and practical experience with the modelling pipeline of commercial FE software.

Engineering: Mechanics, Materials, Design, Short Course

The Open University presents a modular course, where credits from this undergraduate-level module could count towards a certificate of higher education, diploma of higher education, foundation degree or honours degree. This enables engineers to stay on track of their professional goals by aligning them with the educational background to succeed in their field of work while staying informed on the latest developments in the field of mechanics, materials and engineering designs.

Advanced Dynamics, Certificate

The Delft University of Technology offers a practical course in tracking down and applying the equations of motion for complex dynamic systems. Their Advanced Dynamics course presents mechanics in a matrix to allow engineers to derive systematically in a short time frame the equations of motion of complex systems – something greatly valued in their field of work.

Options in Physics, Short Course

Harvard Summer School offers several open-enrolment courses with a focus on Physics, such as Options in Physics. This course relies on an accelerated introduction to classical mechanics, with special emphasis on the motion in fluids of biological objects, from proteins to people. This course covers in depth electricity and electric circuits, magnetism, waves, and optics, fulfilling one of two semesters of physics for entrance to medical school.

Automation and Simulation, Certificate

The Automation and Simulation Summer School at RWTH Aachen University gives an introduction to cutting-edge computer technology and methods used in mechanical engineering. This programme gives an overview of numerical methods used to solve engineering problems, as well as calculation and simulation techniques in production.

Finite Element Analysis, Short Course

Some of topics in the "Finite Element Analysis" summer course from Stanford Summer include Newton’s method for nonlinear problems; convergence, limit points and bifurcation; consistent linearization of nonlinear variation forms by directional derivative; tangent operator and residual vector; variation formulation and finite element discretization of nonlinear boundary value problems; enhancements of Newton’s method: line-search techniques, quasi-Newton and arc-length methods.

Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Product Innovation, Certificate

This Mechatronic Systems Engineering and Product Innovation Summer School at RWTH Aachen University gives an introduction in generating product innovations. Engineers gain insight into the aspects of mechanical engineering to create and design cutting-edge innovative products.

Competency in Machine Vision Applications in Industry, Certificate

The Engineering Institute of Technology offers a course that begins with an examination of optics and lighting and moves on to the fundamentals of image processing and machine vision. This gives engineers a solid foundation to work with machine vision systems, which are a key part of many industrial systems, ranging from mineral processing to manufacturing.

Competency in Process Plant Layout & Piping Design, Certificate

The objective of this course from the Engineering Institute of Technology is to provide engineers with the basic knowledge and skills to facilitate faster learning curves while on the job. This gives them a profound understanding of the fundamental principles and concepts used in process plant layout and piping design, applicable in refineries and petrochemical plants, as well as other complex facilities consisting of equipment, piping systems, instruments, electrical systems, electronics, computers, and control systems.

Mechanical Engineering Technology, Advanced Diploma

This is an 18-month eLearning program at the Engineering Institute of Technology that covers the core skills in working with mechanical engineering technology and systems. As the need for these increases, and there is a shortage of highly skilled practically oriented mechanical technologists and engineers in the world today, the need for theoretically oriented practitioners will create many more job opportunities with attractive compensation.

These 10 short courses to refresh your engineering skills can be a good starting point to develop your technical skills as an integral part of your personal development. Strong technical skills can increase your income, and enable you to advance in your career with minimal investments of time and resources.

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