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Initiative: Inspired by Engineering Topic: Education and Skills Date: October 2007 Source: The Engineering and Technology Board Overview: Engineering Technician ranks will hopefully be boosted by a pilot project, starting this month, to promote student registration in the Further Education sector. Funded by the Engineering & Technology Board (ETB), managed by the National Forum of Engineering Centres (NFEC) and actively supported by ECUK, the project's principal aim is to encourage FE learners to become student institution members, with a view to setting them on the road to EngTech registration. The project was preceded by a survey of learners and lecturers at a number of FE colleges, and private training providers. The aim of this survey was to find out more about their awareness of engineering institutions and get a better insight into what motivated those who had become members and deterred those who had not. It also sought to identify the willingness of lecturers to support efforts to encourage student membership. Though small-scale, the survey suggested that institutions need to build a higher profile in this sector and to convince FE learners of the real and practical benefits of joining including the opportunity to work towards professional registration. The ETB activity: The pilot will endeavour to achieve these aims through a largely face-to-face approach with level 3 learners and advanced apprentices. A total of 11 FE centres are involved in the North West, North East, Midlands, South West and London / South East, and it is intended that the message will be spread to more than 500 potential EngTechs. Over ten engineering institutions are participating in the project. A project report, with recommendations for sustaining student institution membership and increasing EngTech registrations, will be published in September 2008. Further information: If you would like to participate in this project please contact our Project Manager, Peter Chalder-Wood, via email pcw@nemi-cai.com. |
Briefing: Lisbon or Bust Topic: Skills Date: August 2007 Source: The Engineering and Technology Board Overview: The Lisbon Agenda, initiated in 2000 and revised in 2005, is the EU's strategic response to issues of low productivity and stagnation of economic growth within the context of emerging global competition from India and China. Addressing three key factors: Economic to prepare the ground for the transition to a competitive, dynamic, knowledge-based economy. Social to modernise the European social model by investing in human resources and combating social exclusion. Environmental added in 2001, to highlight that economic growth must be decoupled from the use of natural resources. The ETB activity: The ETB briefing paper highlights key points and issues that emerge from The Lisbon Agenda considering its implications from a Science, Engineering and Technology sector perspective. The briefing paper looks at the scale of the problem, in relation to the GDP and inward investment in research and development in the context of global competition. It also provides commentary on the adequate supply of skilled people, comparing the UK skills base of graduate researchers to the EU, USA and China. The document concludes with opinion on the main thrust of the UK Governments attempt to achieve its Lisbon target through the funding of Research Councils (the primary supporters of academic research) and the recently formed Technology Strategy Board (TSB). Further information: Download the ETB Briefing Paper here. |
Survey: Growth in Business University Engagement Topic: Education Date: August 2007 Source: Higher Education Funding Council for England Overview: A survey of interactions between the Higher Education (HE) sector, businesses and community organisations for the years 2004-2005 and 2005 - 2006, shows that the HE sectors links with business continue to grow and diversify. The sixth Higher Education-Business and Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey reports that collaborative research between business and public funders is now valued at just under £600 million, a 12 per cent increase from 2004-2005. Overall, UK higher education institutions received £2.25 billion in 2005-2006 from business and community interaction, a 7 per cent rise from 2004-2005. The number of full-time equivalent staff dedicated to engaging with commercial partners also rose by almost 28 per cent. Some of the key annual income figures for 2005 - 2006 include: £115m in consulting income from business £595m in collaborative research income £89m in equipment and facilities services £651m from contract research income £80m on higher education institutions short bespoke course on companies' premises The ETB activity: The ETB welcome the positive findings of this survey as this highlights the importance of employer engagement to higher education institutions, business, lecturers (CPD) and students. Recently the ETB undertook a survey of employer engagement in engineering foundation degrees (ENGFD). This examined the nature of the links between employers and providers in the design of ENGFDs to explore the nature of best practice and expose the barriers to employer engagement. Although our research highlights that there is strong evidence of employers and providers collaborating, it also identifies the need for greater employer involvement in the design and development of Foundation Degrees. Further information: For more information on the HFECE research click here. ETB research available on our website http://www.etechb.co.uk/. |
Research: Public Attitudes to Engineering and Engineers Topic: Public Perception Date: September 2007 Source: The Engineering and Technology Board Overview: The ETB and Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) have published a report into the public perceptions of engineering and engineers. The report, which was produced by BMRB, observed that young people had many misconceptions around both the meaning and role of engineers and engineering. Overall, the research aimed to: Determine public attitudes to engineering and engineers Ascertain public perceptions of engineering and engineers Explore, in depth, the reasons for public attitudes to and perceptions of, engineering and engineers Explore public perceptions on how engineering impacts and contributes to society, before and after exposure to the topic Explore public priorities in relation to the issues, topics and challenges that engineering should be focusing on The ETB activity: The research found that, though awareness and knowledge of the engineering profession was limited overall, findings from the nationally representative quantitative survey showed that engineering as a profession was viewed positively, especially in comparison to other professions. On average engineering was perceived as making a good contribution to society and was said to be involved with several important issues affecting society today. These findings will be used as a benchmark to help the engineering community understand public perceptions and identify ways in which understanding of the profession can be improved. Further information: A copy of the press release can be downloaded here. |
Invitation: Technician Supply & Demand. Do the numbers really add up? Date: 30th October Time: 10.00 to 12.30 Venue: The ETB The Engineering and Technology Board would like to invite you to a seminar to be held on the 30th October. The theme for the seminar is: Technician supply and demand. Do the numbers really add up? This seminar is being hosted by the ETB and the research agency Freshminds with presentations from The EEF and SEMTA, the sector skills council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies. This seminar is aimed at 20 to 30 key education and skills stakeholders in order to keep them abreast of supply and demand issues related to technicians and vocational skills and to allow ensuing debate. We will be conducting a review of the current issues regarding the supply of Level 3 technicians and an overview of current interventions in this area. The panel discussions will be used to inform the production of a short briefing paper and possibly further research that can be used to inform and influence policy in this vital skills area. There are only a few places for this seminar remaining which will be assigned on a first come first served basis. If you would like to attend this seminar please contact Rhys Holdaway on 020 3206 0432 or via email at rholdaway@etechb.co.uk. The event will be held at the ETB offices in central London. Click here for directions to the ETB offices. |
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