SARTOR 97: the background and the looming shake-out for university engineering departments

The educational requirements for engineers have steadily increased and professional engineering is now a graduate profession. There have been two major reviews of the profession: the Finniston Enquiry, and the Engineering Council review which led to the publication of SARTOR 97 (Standards and Routes Towards Registration). Both reviews followed major expansions in higher education and concerns about educational standards. This paper analyses the evidence for qualification drift in both A-levels and degree output classifications. The effect of SARTOR 97 on university departments is considered and a major shake-out predicted