Wednesday, 10 October 2007

A Future Shortage of Engineers?

Is there a coming shortage of civil engineers? A recent article in the Cincinnati Examiner has concluded that there is.

 

The article stated that the coming shortage is the nearly universal conclusion of engineers and the educators who train them. The article noted that employers are pouring time, energy and money into selling the profession to school children, beginning in kindergarten, to avoid running short some day. The American Society for Engineering Education's annual survey of more than 300 colleges shows the number of degrees awarded has risen slightly every year since 1999, while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics calls future demand for engineers "normal." As our infrastructure ages and deteriorates, however, that demand could change.

 

The article listed the ASCE Report Card for America’s Infrastructure and the collapse of the 35W Bridge in Minneapolis as indications that demand for engineering services will be increasing. Under current projections, the quality of the nation’s infrastructure is expected to decrease significantly over the next few decades. Adding a relative shortage of qualified engineers into the mix only serves to worsen the situation.

 

Among the ways to address this potential problem, the article noted the need to emphasis K-12 math and science education. ASCE has long championed the need to improve K-12 math and science education and was an active promoter in the effort to pass the Competes Act (H.R. 2272). In addition to authorizing funding for basic and targeted research and development, the legislation promotes improvement in math and science curriculum and further training for the nation’s math and science teachers. On its own, ASCE, is working to solve this impending problem is well. This summer marked the 7th year of the ExCEEd Program, an intensive practicum for civil engineering educators that focuses on improving engineering education. Beyond specific training programs, ASCE is always looking for ways to promote the profession and cultivate new practitioners. Visit http://www.asce.org to learn more about ASCE’s education and career programs.

 

Congress and the President also have been taking these issues more seriously lately, with the passage of the Competes Act and likely increases in funding for the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the research programs at the Department of Energy – progress is being made. The question is- will it continue?

Posted by Martin H at 4:39 PM in Competition and Innovation/
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Friday, 3 March 2006

Ex-NC Governor Supports Making Education National Priority

At a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee’s Education Subcommittee, former North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt made a passionate plea for more resources for math and science education.  Hunt, a four-term Democratic governor, endorsed the Bush Administration’s American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI). 

He stated that American’s can – and must – compete in today’s global economy but it will take strong leadership and a bold new emphasis on education.  He went further to say that most would say that schools are a local and state issue, but if we are to do what we need to do, then education has to be a national issue – one that is every bit as important as the war on terror.

He stated that the National Academies should be charged with to develop standards and assessments for math and science education and that the states should be encouraged to implement these standards.

I may be a bit biased since I worked on campaigns for Governor Hunt many years ago, but I believe this is the type of leadership we need on this issue.  I was also pleased to see that when Governor Hunt spoke (he was third on the witness list), most of the Subcommittee members were in the room, coming in as he began and leaving as he finished – something of a show of respect.

Full text of Governor Hunt’s statement can be found at the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee website: http://help.senate.gov/

 

Posted by Martin H at 2:32 PM in Competition and Innovation/
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