What is an engineer? Can technicians, constructors, plumbers, electricians and academics all use the title? And how many 17- and 18-year-olds are aware of the engineer's role in today's economy?
"No other professional body allows its title of qualification to be so misused or misunderstood as engineering does," wrote Janet Brindley in a recent letter to the Guardian. "We must recognise and respect engineering as a range of scientific disciplines employing highly qualified and skilled men and women."
The UK has a rich engineering heritage and is still a world leading base for research and industry. But to maintain this position – and progress – we need to nurture the next generation of engineers, says Mike Hounslow, pro-vice chancellor for engineering at the University of Sheffield. This will rely on two things: firstly, recruiting and supporting leading academics into teaching, as well as research, and secondly, through an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to teaching in state of the art facilities.
There's evidence to show that universities are moving in the right direction. Government funding for costly STEM undergraduate courses has increased. Employers have been given greater opportunities to tailor the design of university courses and introduce more industry work placements. Seven UK universities recently received a funding boost to support their pioneering aerodynamic research. And construction is underway on a range of capital projects, including a new £80m engineering building in Sheffield.
Yet latest figures from HESA show that more still needs to be done. Universities saw a 7% drop in the number of postgraduates studying engineering and technology between 2011/12 and 2012/13, while business secretary Vince Cable has also voiced concern over the lack of female engineering professionals – the UK has the lowest percentage in Europe at less than 10%.
This Friday (24 January) we'll be gathering experts online to discuss the future of engineering in higher education. We'd like to debate:
• The challenges facing universities
• Funding for teaching and research
• Push for multidisciplinary teaching
• Supporting women in engineering
• Recruiting the best teaching talent
• Industry ties and new partnerships
The debate – in partnership with the University of Sheffield – is open to all and will take place in the comments section below this article from 12-2pm GMT. Create a Guardian comment account to join in.
Panel
Meg Munn is MP for Sheffield Heeley. She is vice-chair for the all-party parliamentary engineering group and editor of unlocking potential: perspectives on women in science, engineering & technology (2011). @MegMunnMP
David Delpy is chief executive of Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Mike Hounslow is professor and pro-vice-chancellor for engineering at the University of Sheffield.
Ruchi Choudhary is a lecturer in the department of engineering at the University of Cambridge.
John Mitchell is director of the integrated engineering programme at UCL, a curriculum development programme which is introducing a set of courses across the faculty that emphasise the interdisciplinary,
collaborative and practical aspects of engineering. @drjohnmitchell
David Tann is head of department of urban engineering at London South Bank University. He is a chartered engineer and a fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Tiina Roose is professor of biological and environmental modelling at the University of Southampton.
Gordon Mizner is chief executive of the Engineering Development Trust (EDT).
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