It’s no secret that that there is currently a shortage of skilled engineers in the UK, and with MPs insisting the UK is to be amongst the best in the world for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, it’s important that this issue is addressed. As more and more talented young people pass through school without even considering engineering as a potential career, a new approach needs to be taken to encourage the engineers of the future to step up and rise to the challenge.
One of the key skills of an engineer is their ability to problem solve. Here at Stead Engineering, we use this skill everyday, on every project. Every client has unique specifications and we must tailor our service to suit their needs, overcoming obstacles that arise on the way to deliver exactly what they require.
A recent report by the Royal Academy of Engineering suggests that a focus on “playful experimentation” in schools could enhance learning throughout the UK, whilst also instilling a passion for engineering in students from an early age. In an industry that is all about combining creativity with precision, it is essential that children learn to think outside of the box, and aren’t afraid to approach problems from unique perspectives.
Whilst this may seem like an obvious skill to be teaching in schools, giving pupils the freedom to approach tasks on their own and develop their ability to problem solve is often overlooked by schools, and they instead favour the spoon feeding of academic syllabus in order to ensure students pass their exams. But just like there is no cookie cutter template for each of our engineering projects, there is no set way to define a young person’s potential as an engineer. Just because a student doesn’t achieve straight As at GCSE, doesn’t mean that they wont make a great engineer; it just takes a different approach.
As Professor Bill Lucas of Winchester University, said, schools "must rethink" the methods they use to teach children in order to increase “engagement in engineering”.
If the UK is serious about becoming a world leader in STEM subjects, then we need to address the issue head on. Our lack of engineers in the country is a problem, but it’s one that can easily be solved. Ironically, the key lies in teaching children to solve problems themselves.
