Fundamental Competencies: Preparing the 21st Century Engineer is an innovative and accessible textbook that introduces first year engineering students to the practice of engineering. It focuses on the development of a broad range of skills--from the 'soft' skills of teamwork and communication to the 'hard' skills of engineering design and mathematical modelling--and presents these as 'fundamental competencies' that all engineers must master in order to be successful. By using a fictious company, Brunel Group, students are exposed to situations that will likely arise in their careers as engineers.