Friday, October 12, 2007

Ay Trace, wot's 'n eng'nier do?

Dunno Shaz, summat to do wiv drivin' trains?

This from EnvironmentTimes highlights the lack of awareness amongst teenagers of Engineering as a career.

"Ninety per cent of 14 and 15 year olds know little or nothing about careers in engineering and technology, a study by Europe's largest professional society for engineers, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), has revealed."

At a time when it looks as if some fairly hefty engineering projects are going to happen along (Severn barrage, expanding the Thames tidal barrier etc.) I find that really disheartening: And its probably a sad reflection of the state of our current education system too.

1 comment:

Emma said...

Of my graduating class of 40 Civil Engineers, I think about 10% stayed in the profession.

In part this was thanks to a distinct lack of projects (we were looking to build bridges and all at the time required was 2up-2downs for Barratts) but also the status issue and consequent lack of money.

The ICE was even then muttering about it, but has never to my mind addressed this, and indeed the chance has been lost.

While I fully respect a person who has done a trade and can fix a washing machine, it did rather hurt that most thought the ability to span a river or build a skyscraper (noting your and Lawrence's comment on cement I now have a double karmic correction to atone) equated. Oddly, these guys can now turn mega-bucks. Be a plumber, my sons!

In France, Germany and the USA to be an Engineer is understood and respected.

Sadly, here one is merely lumped in with a noble grouping that can include sanitation conveyance engineers (bin men).

How Great Britain was made just Britain by the covey of less folk who somehow saw the way to power and keeping it was to do little and work hard at dragging us all down to their level. Then use legislation to keep us there.