More students need to choose engineering
A recruitment firm has urged schools to take a role in creating Australia’s next generation of engineers instead of steering those good at math into science careers.
The managing director of Australia Wide Personnel Stephen Noble says young people with a talent for math are choosing science at the expense of engineering and yet the Australian job market had many more roles for engineers than scientists.
An Australia Wide Personnel survey of 300 engineers revealed having “a talent for mathematics / science” was the biggest driver behind their chosen career. A personal interest in “things technical” was the next most significant influence amongst the survey respondents.
Mr Noble claims employer demand in Australia was stronger for engineers and universities also had a role to play in influencing study choices and career decisions.
“We need engineers; however our universities are producing scientists. In 2010 our universities produced 61 per cent more domestic graduate scientists than engineers,” he said adding that demand for engineers was ten times higher than demand for scientists.
“By and large, the engineering jobs are also better paid with far better career prospects”.
“More of the students in the 12-15 age bracket who show an aptitude for maths and science need to be exposed to what engineers do – unfortunately it’s one of those professions which goes under the radar to a fair degree and the general population do not have a great idea of what an engineer actually does and the variety of career streams available.
“Most students in this age bracket would have a fairly good understanding of what a doctor, an accountant, a scientist and a computer programmer does. Engineering hasn’t hit popular culture through the media, nor is it taught at school.
“Should we be opening up our minds to engineering being a mainstream elective which goes hand in hand with maths and science?”
“Perhaps the subject could have a very practical focus with activities such as basic CAD drawing, working with hobby electronics kits, regular site visits to a variety of engineering offices”.
