Yahoo News Parents need to help educate children about engineering careers
Elon Musk, Larry Page, Dame Stephanie "Steve" Shirley – do any of these names ring a bell? World famous engineers, whose work has significantly improved the world we live in today, but are far less well-known than many reality stars and musicians. The truth is that although engineering is critical to our economy and well being, it has a long way to go before it is seen as a cool, trendy or a glamorous career.
For years engineering has been held back by pervasive but outdated imagery of hard hats and greasy overalls – which is part of the reason why we face such a shortage of young people coming into the profession today. All too often we see or hear of engineers fixing things, rather than working on solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges.
Engineers are behind everything from the next mission to Mars to developing revolutionary healthcare technologies to cure some of the world’s most prevalent diseases – not to mention creating the next ‘big’ social media app.
Engineering has a long way to go before it is seen as a cool, trendy or a glamorous career
Nigel Fine
Everything in the world around us is the result of technology innovation with engineering at its heart, and yet many people are simply unaware of the impact engineering has on society.
This includes parents, who have a big influence on their children’s career choices. New research by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) reveals that parents are six times more familiar with pop star Justin Bieber than famous engineer and entrepreneur Elon Musk, who is currently ranked as the 21st most powerful man in the world by Forbes.
The survey of 2,000 parents of school aged children also found that while the majority (93 per cent) of parents claim to know what engineering is, when they’re pressed further, less than a quarter feel very confident in describing what an engineer does (23 per cent). This is in sharp contrast to other careers where parents felt very comfortable with describing what a teacher (64 per cent), nurse (62 per cent) and police officer (60 per cent) does as a profession.
Why does this matter? It matters because parents’ comparatively poor understanding of engineering is influencing children’s interest in pursuing a career in the industry.
That this is a problem for our future economy goes without saying. EngineeringUK highlighted this year that 186,000 jobs with engineering skills will be needed annually through to 2024.
But it’s also a shame for future generations of young people who risk missing out on creative, rewarding and challenging careers that would enable them to make a real difference to society – something that is increasingly important to children and their parents when making career choices.
Of course, the lack of understanding among parents is compounded by the education system. In the 2016 IET Annual Skills Survey, 68 per cent of engineering employers were concerned that the education system will struggle to keep up with the skills required for technological change.
Perceptions of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths in the classroom need updating. Children are taught Maths and Sciences, but not how to apply what they have learned in the modern workplace. Similarly career information on engineering is patchy to say the least, with not enough inspiring information available to children and parents on the vast range of exciting and creative careers in engineering.
Many of today’s school children and their parents have little idea that engineering attracts competitive salaries, offers enviable opportunities for travel and is behind most of the well-known everyday brands and products that we take for granted.
This is why the IET is working with well-known brands and organisations across the UK to showcase to children and parents the amazing engineering that goes on behind the scenes.
It’s the third year of Engineering Open House Day, which aims to bridge the gap in understanding and open both parents and children’s eyes to the fact that engineering is a fantastic career for girls and boys. Over 40 organisations that young people know and love across the country such as Thorpe Park, Madame Tussauds, Dr. Martens and the BBC are opening their doors so that children and parents can go behind the scenes and see for themselves what engineering is all about.
Career information on engineering is patchy to say the least
Nigel Fine
Albert Einstein summed up engineering as identifying a problem and creating a solution. The problems will continue to change – today’s issues are about global warming, energy security and communications, and engineers will continue to solve them. Government’s acknowledgment of the need for more engineers is critical as the onus for real change must be a shared responsibility by Government, employers, schools and parents to collaboratively promote an understanding about engineering career opportunities.
Initiatives like the IET’s Engineering Open House Day can play an important role by sparking that initial interest and curiosity in engineering to encourage both parents and children to want to find out more.
To learn more or attend a local engineering open house near you on Friday 28 July, visit: https://www.engineer-a-better-world.org/whats-on/
Nigel Fine is Chief Executive of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
