Engineering is “almost invisible to young people” due to inadequate careers education and guidance, says the UK’s engineering profession.
Education for Engineering (E4E), a group made up of 39 UK engineering bodies, has issued a policy statement (HEJ – February 2011) providing recommendations to Government on improving the careers system in England to ensure youngsters recognise the breadth of engineering career opportunities available to them. E4E has welcomed John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning’s proposal for an all-age independent careers service. However, it says the Education Bill removes schools’ duty to provide general careers education for young people, potentially reducing the number of students aware of the career opportunities engineering provides. E4E makes five recommendations for improving delivery of careers education, advice, and guidance:
• A statutory entitlement for lessons in careers education as part of personal, social, and health education.
• The need to demonstrate competence in the teaching of careers education as part of the professional standards for qualified teacher status
• The use of real-life science and engineering examples in lessons, with careers awareness embedded in the curriculum.
• Improved access to labour market information for schools and colleges, and closer links with local employers.
• Specialist science, engineering, and technology advisors in careers advisory agencies.
Dick Olver FREng, chairman of BAE Systems, and E4E chair, said: “We need to better inform our children and young adults about engineering’s value and the exciting career opportunities an engineering background can afford.”
