Analysis of Soft Skills in Electrical Engineering Through the Use of Paradidactic Materials

The film "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind", released in 2019, portrays the story of William Kamkwamba, a young self-taught man from Malawi who built a windmill (wind turbine) amidst poverty and drought in his family/community in a rural village, providing energy and water to his community. The film highlights the role of soft skills such as resilience and creativity in developing innovative solutions in contexts of scarcity, highlighting their relevance to engineering. This study aims to analyze the impact of soft skills on the training of electrical engineers, based on Kamkwamba's story. The aim is to understand how interpersonal and problem-solving skills can be integrated into the engineering curriculum to prepare professionals for challenging scenarios. The research follows a qualitative approach, combining film analysis and literature reviews. Skills developed by Kamkwamba and their potential impact on the training of engineers were identified. The analysis focuses on the practical application of these skills in electrical engineering, considering technological and social innovations in adverse environments. The study points out that soft skills such as resilience, creativity and critical thinking are essential to overcoming technical challenges and developing sustainable solutions. Kamkwamba's trajectory illustrates how these skills can drive innovative projects, even in limited resources. Therefore, integrating soft skills into electrical engineering education is essential to train professionals capable of acting creatively and empathetically. Preparing engineers to face global challenges requires balancing technical knowledge and interpersonal skills.