Engineers 2030 report challenges existing skills systems
A UK Royal Academy of Engineering report outlines recommendations for engineering education and career development.
Engineers 2030 explores how engineering knowledge, skills and behaviours are evolving, how the workforce must adapt to 21st Century challenges, and recommends changes to education and training support so it can meet future needs.
The report is the culmination of an 18-month project by the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC), which sought to define the skills needs of the UK engineering workforce, involving ideation workshops, national and regional roundtables, literature reviews, and policy research and analysis. This is in response to a growing shortfall in the UK’s engineering skills capacity, despite sustained demand in the sector.
Although Skills England expects engineering occupations to experience one of the highest rates of employment growth, the NEPC reports that the UK isn’t currently equipped to develop a workforce with the capabilities, values and support required to succeed in their roles.
The final report incorporates insights from employers, educators, engineers and technicians, and is informed by recent research into UK education and skills programmes, its communities and the engineering industry’s upskilling priorities.
Engineers 2030 identifies that a ‘fit-for-purpose’ skills system should be future-focused, guided by a coherent systems approach and accessible to all at every stage of learning and careers, and offers 10 practical recommendations for addressing this.
Recommendations include creating dynamic curricula that combine breadth, depth and cross-cutting capability; employers being considered a fundamental part of training and education; as well as for the government to develop a long-term plan for all levels of engineering skills and reduce barriers to and complexity for employers to provide necessary training to employees.
The National Engineering and Technology Skills Centre is a Royal Academy initiative that aims to support these aims, provide learning resources and materials to colleges and universities, and direct training and upskilling support to engineers and technicians in industry.
