Engineering education for the future

The output of education and training systems, in terms of both quantity and quality of skills at all levels, is the prime determinant of a country´s level of industrial productivity and, hence, its competitiveness. However, the number of British students entering engineering courses is declining at a time when, more than ever, our lives are governed by technology and we are dependent on the ideas and work of engineers. However, that decline is also being observed in Europe, the USA and Japan. An issue of great importance is the engineering degree course itself and many countries, as well as institutions, are now overhauling their education system in order to attract more students to their engineering courses and, equally importantly, to help keep pace with the rapid development of technology and society. In this article, the author discusses the changes which need to be made in the way the UK educates its engineers