Engineering report points to X-factor

Members of the Innovation, Universtities, Science and Skills Select Committee report on Engineering said they were greatly impressed by high quality and wide-ranging work to give young people experience of engineering and were supportive of all efforts to make young people aware of the rewarding and challenging nature of a career in engineering. It goes on: “While we would not advocate that geo-engineering (engineering linked to dealing with the challenges of climate change) be championed as a research field above any other, we believe that it might have the 'X-factor' when it comes to alerting young people to global engineering challenges and we welcome its inclusion in engineering events.” Ultimately, however, says the report, the key to solving sector-specific shortages of engineers will ultimately lie in the UK's ability to train the next generation of generalist engineers, who will then specialise after university. It believes that plastics electronics is one example of an industry that would benefit from the introduction of post-graduate programmes that offered generalist engineers specialised training. The committee, which comprises 14 MPs chaired by Phil Willis MP (pictured) also suggests that engineering institutions and the Government should do a better job of promoting Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer and Engineering Technician status so they enjoy similar public respect to qualifications such as PhDs, Masters and Honours Degrees, or professional qualifications in law and medicine. The report concludes: “We are convinced that the considerable strength of the UK's engineering base makes it both this nation's responsibility and in its economic interest to play a major part, through our engineering base, in solving global problems such as climate change, food and water supply, energy security and economic instability. The recent economic crisis has presented the Government with a once-in-generation opportunity to restructure the economy by building on the existing substantial strengths of UK engineering.” Lee Hopley, head of economic policy at EEF said: "With good news thin on the ground this is a well-timed and positive report celebrating the contribution of engineering to the UK's economy and the importance of getting the right framework in place for the recovery. There is huge potential for engineering to find solutions to the long term challenges we face. The Committee rightly identified the need for more strategic government procurement and getting the right skills in place to do this if UK engineering is to take a lead in emerging industries."