Press Release
Media Briefing – Educating Engineers to fuel the Knowledge Economy
14 June 2007
Why? Launch of the Royal Academy of Engineering Report “Educating Engineers for the 21st Century”
When? Thursday 21 June 2007 at 10.00am
Where? Science Media Centre, 19 Albemarle street, London W1S 4BS
No factor is more critical in underpinning the continuing health and vitality of any national economy than a strong supply of graduate engineers able to apply their skills in business and other environments. Some of the greatest challenges the world faces are to deliver secure supplies of energy and water to an expanding population whilst dealing with the challenge of climate change – all of which demand innovative engineering solutions.
So why, at a time when our need for engineering talent is huge, is the UK’s output of engineers stagnating? Between 1994 and 2004 the number of students starting engineering degrees at UK universities remained at 24,500 each year even though total university admissions rose by 40 per cent during the same decade. Less than half of the UK’s engineering graduates actually choose to enter the profession after qualifying.
Meanwhile, mature economies like the UK must now compete with rapidly developing countries like India and China, which are producing record numbers of engineering graduates.
A new report from the UK’s leading engineers will make recommendations to Government and the engineering community to redress this balance.
This briefing will launch The Royal Academy of Engineering’s report ‘Educating Engineers for the 21st Century’.
Speakers will be:
-
Professor Julia King CBE FREng, Vice Chancellor of the University of Aston
- Dr Michael Shears CBE FREng, Chairman, Arup Trustees
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