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Originally Posted by Lucysgirl
If this article and TV discussion programmes are correct that we need another million engineers to fill those anticipated new jobs then I don't think this government will be able to keep its promise to curb immigration. There aren't enough technical colleges or grammar/comprehensive schools teaching sciences & maths to cater for firms who want to employ apprentices nor sufficient university places to cater for engineering management. We need to catch up with the likes of China, Germany, etc.
<< The UK needs more science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates in order to aid the economic recovery according to a new report released by the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Of the 1.25 million science, engineering and technology professionals and technicians the report claims are needed by 2020, a significant number of them should be engineers, as the UK is currently failing to produce the required numbers of engineers.
The report’s findings follow a recent warning by the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET), that Britain is producing only 25-50% of the engineering graduates required for the UK economy. In effect this puts the number of additional engineers required by 2020 at 200,000. With only 90,000 STEM students graduating per year and a quarter of those choosing careers outside of Engineering there is already a shortfall.
Some believe the way to increasing numbers lies with the relationships universities develop with employers from the engineering and technology sectors. An increase in the number of students taking STEM subjects will be crucial to the future economy, enabling an increase in the output of the UK.
In addition to findings of the report another survey commissioned by IET for 2012 has shown the demand for engineers is growing. 58% of companies are planning to recruit, compared to just 36% in 2011.>>
source: NRP - About Us - News - Over One Million New Engineering & Technology Professionals needed by 2020 |
All of which is pretty much down to the way higher education is funded. Courses such as Coronation Street and The Beatles attract funding, as do one day courses on Health and Safety, Food Hygiene and Load Management. The line between university and college has become blurred. So many colleges of further education are applying for university status to get onto this gravy train.
I'm always a tad sceptical of surveys that benefit the instigators.
Degree courses in Science, Technology and Engineering have to fend for themselves under Cameron, as they have done under Blair, Brown and Thatcher. And I'm not even going to mention tuition fees, oops, already did
Those that are lucky enough, wealthy enough and smart enough to get onto these limited courses sod off to countries that value them as soon as they graduate.