Producing Engineers

Abstract

Engineering lies at the heart of industry, it is essential to acquire sufficient numbers of properly trained people in order that economic revival can be maintained. Yet cultural bias and demography threaten this goal. This article examines what is meant by the term ‘engineer’ and relates it to the concept of professional status, a recognition of which has become in tegral to the problem of attracting a large number of good quality recruits. Yet it is an over‐emphasis upon this ideology which has also harmed the ability of the engineering occupations to provide access to training for many potential engineers. The article posits the view that at a time when developments are taking place elsewhere to obtain a more demographically representative spread of recruits into various occupations, engineering has actually become more elitist.

The paper proceeds to place these regressive tendencies within the framework of Government policies and private sector aspirations, arguing that a combination of market forces and central direction will compel the professional authorities to broaden access on terms chosen by those outside of the engineering occupations. The framework for this can be found within the National Council for Vocational Qualifications, the Engineering Industry Training Board, and the needs and intentions of employers and Government.