Dr Catherine Hobbs, Head of Department for Engineering Design and Mathematics at the University of West England (UWE) has explored the challenges of the UK engineering skills gap for The Engineer.
Dr Hobbs explained that “as the country struggles to resolve its relationship with the EU” that “improving UK productivity and competitiveness is now more important than ever”.
Her view is that a “talent revolution” will be required to plug the skills gap. With “100,000 new professional scientists, engineers and technologists each year until 2020”.
She believes that in order to do this “Universities need to teach not just the functional skills, but focus on real-world learning experiences that allow graduates to be adaptable, enterprising and ready for work.”
Citing Skills mapping as a means for “universities to create and expand courses and focus more effectively on particular specialisms”.
