A recent UK government report reveals a worrying lack of science and engineering input into formulation of its policies. Sanowar Khan of City University London says it is a timely reminder for the government to take more action to engage, promote and protect its world-class engineering professions.
The recent report of the House of Commons innovation, universities, science and skills (IUSS) committee Engineering: turning ideas into reality1 is timely, providing an opportunity to reflect upon engineering as a profession in the UK, its perception and prestige, and the role it needs to play in society, industry and government.
It was not a great surprise to learn that the committee found engineering advice is absent or barely featured in the formulation of key government policies, and that there is a lack of in-house engineering expertise in Westminster generally.
The UK is a great engineering nation with significant engineering expertise and tradition. As the oldest professional body, the Institution of Civil Engineers goes back to 1818. The UK also has a world-class engineering research base, as evidenced by the outcome of the research assessment exercise in 2008.2 Despite this, very few of Britain's engineers are in a position to influence and inform government policy.
Government chief engineer
The IUSS committee report recommends the appointment of a government chief engineer, which is an excellent idea. However, the UK should also look to Germany as an example, and encourage more engineers into chief executive roles in industry, giving them greater influence on government policies.
It is interesting to note that only one of the 14 members in the IUSS committee is an engineer by training. By way of contrast, prior to 2007, every member of the Chinese Politburo was an engineer by first degree.
The whole perception of engineering as a profession in the UK needs to be revisited. Concrete measures need to be taken at government level to elevate the profession's prestige and standing in society as it is the case, for example in Japan, China, Germany and France.
As such it was disappointing to see the report opting for softer options, for example, ‘the engineering institutions, Engineering Council UK and the government should do a better job of promoting chartered engineer status (CEng), incorporated engineer status (IEng) and engineering technician status (EngTech)’. The institutions have done this for years, but it seems to have had very little effect on the ‘second class’ status of engineers alongside other professions.
Nevertheless, the report does an excellent job in opening up the debate and raising awareness of the issues involved.
Protecting the title ‘engineer’
The report is wrong however in arguing that legislating against ad-hoc use of the title ‘engineer’ cannot be the answer to raising the status of engineers. On the contrary, the title ‘engineer’ must be protected and regulated like other professional titles, such as ‘doctor’, ‘solicitor’ and ‘architect’.
Engineers and their professional bodies need to lobby their case loudly and persistently at every possible opportunity to change the current unsatisfactory state of affairs. An awareness of this needs to be raised among all qualified engineers, irrespective of the professional bodies to which they belong.
Engineers continue to make a vital contribution to the UK economy, accounting for 21% of the total UK gross domestic product.3 to sustain this, there is a need to revive UK's declining engineering and manufacturing base and to meet major challenges facing the country to help solve global problems of environment, energy, transportation, security, food and water supply.
Graduate applications up
Fortunately there has already been a revived interest in engineering. According to recent figures by Ucas,4 engineering and technology undergraduate applications are up 13% on last year's applications, including mechanical engineering with a 20% rise, and civil engineering increasing by 10%.
The overall 8% rise in university applications suggests that individuals becoming unemployed during the current economic climate are looking to fill their skills gaps in preparation for the end of the recession.
References
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, Sanowar Khan, TEL +44 20 7040 8183, EMAIL s.h.khan@city.ac.uk
