IEEE Week 2026: The Engineer Beyond the Machine – Communication, Judgment & Leadership in the Age of AI

---

---

IEEE Week 2026: The Engineer Beyond the Machine – Communication, Judgment & Leadership in the Age of AI was conducted online on 05 October 2026 as part of IEEE Week 2026. The webinar marked the inaugural event of the newly initiated IEEE Professional Communication Society (ProComm) Student Chapter at the University of Ruhuna, establishing the chapter’s professional-development focus and introducing students to the importance of communication, judgment and leadership in modern engineering practice.

The webinar was designed around an increasingly important challenge for future engineers: while Artificial Intelligence can support technical work, engineering success cannot depend on technical capability alone. Engineers must also be able to communicate clearly, evaluate information critically, exercise professional judgment, collaborate effectively, lead responsibly and make decisions with confidence.

The resource person for the session was Dr. Najath Akram, Signal Processing Engineer at Airspan Networks. Dr. Akram earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Florida International University in 2020 and is an alumnus of the 13th Batch of the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering at the University of Ruhuna. His technical background includes wireless communication systems, signal processing, 5G/LTE, O-RAN, digital baseband processing and RF technologies.

Drawing from both academic and industry experience, the session explored how the role of an engineer is changing in an environment where AI-assisted tools are becoming increasingly common. A central message of the webinar was that engineers must learn to use AI as a support mechanism while continuing to apply independent reasoning, professional responsibility and human judgment.

The session emphasized the importance of clear professional communication, particularly the ability to explain complex technical concepts in a way that can be understood by different audiences. Participants were encouraged to strengthen their ability to structure ideas, communicate with confidence, ask meaningful questions and engage productively in professional discussions.

Another major theme was active listening and constructive disagreement. Participants were introduced to the importance of understanding different perspectives, questioning assumptions, respectfully challenging opinions and contributing effectively in collaborative engineering environments.

The webinar also focused on professional judgment in the age of AI. Participants were encouraged not to accept AI-generated outputs uncritically, but instead to verify information, evaluate assumptions, assess context and take responsibility for engineering decisions. The discussion reinforced the idea that AI can accelerate technical tasks but cannot replace accountability, ethical reasoning or informed human decision-making.

Leadership and teamwork formed another important part of the session. Participants were encouraged to develop initiative, confidence, accountability and the ability to work effectively with others. The webinar highlighted how professional success often depends on an engineer’s ability to influence, collaborate and lead, rather than only on individual technical expertise.

The session therefore encouraged students to view communication, leadership and professional judgment not as secondary “soft skills,” but as essential engineering competencies that complement technical knowledge.

The webinar also introduced participants to the newly established IEEE Professional Communication Society Student Chapter at the University of Ruhuna and its role in supporting communication, leadership, professional development and career-readiness among students. The event reached a maximum attendance of 150 participants, consisting of 40 IEEE members and 110 non-IEEE participants.

The organizing team coordinated speaker communication, promotional activities, online meeting arrangements, moderation and technical support. Some connectivity and audio difficulties occurred at the beginning of the session, but the organizing team managed these challenges and the webinar continued successfully. The experience also provided useful operational learning for future chapter activities, particularly regarding pre-event audio testing, reliable host connectivity and backup technical arrangements.

As the first event of the newly initiated IEEE Professional Communication Society Student Branch Chapter, the webinar represented an important milestone for the chapter. It established a strong foundation for future professional-development activities while highlighting the growing importance of communication, judgment, collaboration and leadership for engineers working in an AI-driven world.

---

---

---

---

6:00 PM – Opening and Welcome

Introduction to the newly initiated IEEE Professional Communication Society Student Branch Chapter – University of Ruhuna

Introduction of the Resource Person – Dr. Najath Akram

Main Webinar: The Engineer Beyond the Machine – Communication, Judgment & Leadership in the Age of AI

Key areas discussed:

• Communication beyond technical expertise
• Explaining complex technical concepts clearly
• Asking effective questions
• Active listening and professional collaboration
• Constructive disagreement
• Evaluating AI-generated outputs critically
• Independent engineering judgment
• Responsible decision-making
• Confidence and professional communication
• Leadership, initiative and accountability
• Teamwork in modern engineering environments
• Using AI as a support tool rather than a replacement for human judgment

Interactive Discussion and Q&A

Vote of Thanks and Closing Remarks

7:30 PM – Conclusion

---

Organized by the newly initiated IEEE Professional Communication Society Student Chapter, University of Ruhuna, as its inaugural event and as part of IEEE Week 2026.

 

---

IEEE Week 2026: The Engineer Beyond the Machine – Official Event Poster	Official promotional poster for the inaugural event of the newly initiated IEEE Professional Communication Society Student Branch Chapter, University of Ruhuna. The webinar “The Engineer Beyond the Machine: Communication, Judgment & Leadership in the Age of AI” was conducted online on 05 October 2026 as part of IEEE Week 2026.	288.28 KiB
Guest Speaker – Dr. Najath Akram	Speaker-introduction artwork featuring Dr. Najath Akram, Signal Processing Engineer at Airspan Networks, who served as the resource person for the inaugural IEEE ProComm Student Branch Chapter webinar.	248.20 KiB
Appreciation to Dr. Najath Akram	Official appreciation artwork thanking Dr. Najath Akram for contributing as the resource person for the inaugural webinar of the IEEE Professional Communication Society Student Branch Chapter, University of Ruhuna.	272.82 KiB

---