The Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) was established in 2009 with a gift from John ’73, ’74, and Ann ’75 Doerr. The official Engineering Leadership Certificate was approved in 2014. RCEL’s mission is to prepare engineers to become inspiring leaders, exceptional team members, effective communicators, and bold entrepreneurs. RCEL’s programing enhances a traditional engineering education by providing skills not typically covered in the Rice engineering curriculum. Through a series of curricular and co-curricular learning experiences, RCEL students learn to create and communicate a vision, build a high-performing team, form and execute collaborative plans, and create innovations that endure. The Need for Engineering Leaders Many of the most important changes in the world today are driven by the creations of engineers. Breakthroughs in computing and biotechnology, for example, are changing the way people communicate, learn, and heal. Engineering leaders are at the forefront of these advancements, and RCEL’s Certificate program is intended to build the skills, motivations, and opportunities needed to become an engineering leader. RCEL Engineering Leadership Certificate At the center of RCEL is the Engineering Leadership Certificate, an accredited academic credential aimed at preparing students for their first leadership role after graduation. The multi-year certificate program comprises a series of courses, labs, and RCEL-specific learning experiences that supplement the core curriculum of the School of Engineering. The RCEL Certificate Program allows students to learn fundamentals of engineering leadership, practice their leadership skills while participating in engineering-based hands-on activities, give and receive coaching, and critically reflect on their leadership experiences through a series of structured self-assessments. Read more about the Certificate and the requirements here.