Hard headed young engineers08 June 2012

It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good, they used to say. And so it is with interest that we observe a significant rise in the numbers of engineering, technology, science and maths students taking up 'The Year in Industry' scheme, which provides worthwhile paid-for gap years for pre-university students.

Education charity EDT, which runs the scheme, is reporting applications up more than 45%, with a core recruitment period still to come. It appears that the high price of today's degrees is concentrating technical young minds. Also, EDT national director Chris Ward reckons that students increasingly believe a good degree is no longer enough, and that they need work experience in order to do well.

But there's more. Ward notes, for example, a growing awareness among students that top employers, such as National Grid, Shell, Rolls-Royce, British Energy, L'Oreal, Centrica and GKN, draw substantially from students they have already seen on work placements, internships and gap years. He also suggests that around a quarter of students completing the EDT scheme attract sponsorship from these companies – extra income that helps defray the high cost of their degrees.

All to the good. But, just as interesting, Ward goes on to suggest that students are increasingly applying for degrees during their gap year, rather than securing a deferred entry earlier on. "This ensures they have some commercial insights before they make their degree choice," he muses. Think of it as a 'try before you buy' opportunity.

There's a great deal to be said for such a common sense approach to education – particularly given the UK's current requirements, in terms of engineers and technicians. Tough economic conditions demand serious change and, while it's encouraging that government purports to recognise the value of shifting the UK's economy in favour of industry, this 'market forces' move towards essentially vocational education may ultimately deliver the sustenance such a rebalancing act depends upon.

This matters. Professor Julia King, vice-chancellor of Aston University and government advisor on education and technology, told an audience recently that tackling climate change alone will drive 2 million engineering posts in the UK.

As she explains: "Reducing emissions means replacing our current operations, infrastructure and manufactured goods with low carbon alternatives – stimulating R&D, providing opportunities for innovative companies to claim new markets and for the UK to rebalance its economy through 'green growth'."

Maybe youth doesn't yet see the bigger picture. But necessity is the mother...

Brian Tinham BSc CEng MInstMC FSOE FIPlantE FIRTE, Editor

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