Sustaining Engineering and Technology Skills

The IET Energy Sector are concerned by the increasing numbers of reports and news items communicating the potentially alarming UK Engineering & Technology skills gap, in particular in Electrical and Electronic Engineering ( 2012 IET skills survey ). We are therefore actively taking on the challenge to do what we can about the situation.

The Energy Sector takes Engineering skills seriously and is working on the following areas to proactively highlight the situation. This work involves various IET departments and collaborations with partner organisations.

Research

In conjunction with the IET Education and Skills policy panel and Professor Bill Drury at Bristol University/Emerson we are attempting to identify todays skills gap and the potential future landscape, based on likely demands; our education system’s ability to train engineers and population demographics. This work continues and we will summarise these research findings as they are realised.

Publication

We are currently producing a “Sustaining Engineering & Technology Skills” document to highlight what the IET is doing to address the engineering skills gap.

1. Education – the IET runs an education programme aided by its members to inspire school children to study Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) and promote careers in engineering;
2. University to early career – The IET sets standards by accrediting degree courses and apprenticeship schemes and guides its members from education through their early career via its Advantage and Signature programmes.

Postgrad Awards

Scholarships up to £10,000 are available. Just  weeks to go until the deadline for our postgraduate scholarships, there are a total of five scholarships, ranging from £2,500 to £10,000. The entry deadline is 4th April and you apply online via the website. The criteria is as follows:

• Be an IET member (but you can apply for membership as you apply for the scholarship);
• Achieved a 2:1 or higher in first degree;
• Currently studying in any year of PhD or EngD research programme.

IET Innovation Awards

There are lots of awards out there. But, for engineers and technologists all over the world, none carries the prestige and authority of the IET Innovation Awards. Last year, 75 applicants were shortlisted from a field of 430 entries and 25 countries. In April the 2013 Awards open for entries. Download and submit your entry form online – these awards are free to enter. Keen to highlight the work of individuals, organisations and companies in the Energy sector, we’d like to invite you to share and celebrate your innovation by entering these Awards.

Action

The IET and the Energy Sector is:

• Actively supporting the Power Electronics UK Forum in its skills work stream;
• Promoting the Technology Strategy Board’s competition to “ Enable a Resilient Energy System ” and the ESP/EG&S KTN’s activities to help find student KTP participants and mentors in conjunction with the IET’s professional development teams;
• Supporting companies and universities through structured undergraduate sponsorship via the Power Academy , E3 Academy and UKESF .

If you have any questions, comments or would like to be involved in any of this work then please get in touch with Gordon Graham, IET Energy Sector Head.