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News Release from: Institution of Engineering and Technology
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 08 February 2007
Engineering institution expresses
diploma concerns
Europe's largest professional engineering institution, has warned that more work is needed on the delivery of the 14-19 engineering diploma to ensure its success.
The IET, Europe's largest professional engineering institution, has praised the 14-19 engineering diploma as an exciting opportunity for young people and the engineering profession, but warned that more work is needed on the delivery of the qualification to ensure its success The comments were made at a round table organised by the IET to bring together stakeholders working on the engineering diploma
The IET has been providing input into the development of the engineering diploma.
Professor David M Howard, Vice President of the IET said: "The engineering diploma represents a wonderful opportunity for everyone".
"It gives us the ability to excite and engage students about an exciting and creative profession - engineering".
"However, this wonderful opportunity could be missed if the various partners don't deliver the resources on time".
"We must get it right first time; otherwise we could do more damage to the profession than good".
The need for more engineering and science skills, and the desire to see more 16-18 year olds in full time education and training are issues fast rising up the UK's policy agenda, and the IET believes that the engineering diploma has the potential for delivering both.
The specific importance of getting more students into engineering was also highlighted by the IET's 2006 skills survey, which found that 40% of employers in the engineering and technology sector thought they were unlikely to be able to recruit the right number of people their business needed.
This point was raised at the round table discussion by Gerard Leahy, Director of Strategic Workforce And Skills Planning, Rolls Royce who said: "Ultimately, where do we want the economy to be? Rolls Royce needs to recruit a 1000 people a year just to stand still".
"Up to 40% of these are young people, either apprentices or graduates".
He continued: "Therefore if we want the economy to be based on high value added activities we will have to invest in the development of the skills needed to get us there".
"Getting students excited, and delivering skills in a different way, through applied learning, and reaching students who might not traditionally stay on post-16, is why the diploma represents such an exciting opportunity".
Margaret Wilson, Head Teacher, King John School, Essex also added to this point as she said: "The diplomas will be a real success in getting youngsters to stay on in school or training".
"If youngsters are going into higher education, parents want their children to be studying degrees that will provide employment opportunities at the end of it".
"The diploma also avoids closing out the options too early and gives young people a wider pathway of options".
However, there was acknowledgement of the challenges faced in implementing the diploma - being taught in 2008, part of every student's national entitlement by 2013.
Concerns were voiced by the Design and Technology Association who help design and technology teachers with resourcing.
Andy Mitchell, Assistant Chief Executive, Design and Technology Association said: "Some teachers are blissfully unaware of what's happening with the diplomas".
"It is a completely new way of working for teachers and students in school".
"For the diploma to be successful teachers of maths, science, design and technology and representatives of industry need to work closely together, because not all skills reside in one place or in one school".
"Ultimately though the diploma represents an opportunity that the various partners, with government support, must ensure we deliver".
Bill Sutton, Acting Project Manager for SEMTA said: "The 14-19 diploma represents the biggest change in education since 1902".
"We hope that the engineering diploma will make engineering holistically visible across areas of education there by increasing recruitment at all levels of engineering".
"Ultimately, this is the first qualification designed by employers for employers". Request free introductory details about products from Institution of Engineering and Technology ...
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