The requirements for engineering degree courses and graduate engineers: an industrial viewpoint

There is currently great concern and controversy over the changing nature and perceived falling quality of engineering education in Britain, and over the critical shortage of school leavers with the necessary qualifications for entry to engineering degree courses. Within the debate, much of the commentary takes a very narrow viewpoint and does not benefit from international comparisons and experienced international practice benchmarking. This paper lists some of the important linked issues and problems which require to be tackled simultaneously to improve the consistency, quality and balance of engineering education to better meet the needs of industry and the individual, including his/her cultural and transferable personal-skill needs. Using international comparisons and contemporary views of the skills required of engineers in practice, it discusses a possible shortlist of actions that need to be applied urgently and simultaneously to achieve a practical solution to the problems