Engineering graduates require an ever-increasing range of skills to maintain relevance with the
global environment of the new millennium. Communication skills are an vital component of this,
recognised by academia and industry alike. English language skills are also important given its
widespread status across the globe as a lingua franca. Indeed, multilingual skills are considered a salient
element in the make-up of the new global engineer. English for specific purposes focuses the learner’s
attention on the particular terminology and communication skills required in the international
professional field. Communication skills development is discussed in the paper, with examples given
of different methods of teaching and assessment. The impacts on communication skills development
include various elements, including gender equality. A lack of sufficient communication skills serves
only to undermine the image of the engineer, but this can be tackled by engaging features of
emotional intelligence (EQ) in the education of engineers. EQ offers various components that can
improve communication skills and emphasise a more experiential approach to learning.