The E3 Academy, an engineering industry initiative to encourage more students to choose engineering related degree courses, was launched May 16 at the Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET) in London. The launch was attended by Richard Lambert, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), who gave a keynote speech supportive of the work and objectives of the E3 Academy.
The number of engineering students has continued to fall year on year, from more than 11 percent in 1998 to just 7 percent in 2007, and of those undertaking an electrical engineering degree, many do not subsequently pursue a career in industry. The decline is set against a general increase in overall student numbers over the past 10 years. Industry commentators and engineering company leaders are stressing that this trend is already having a real bearing on the United Kingdom ability to compete in the global engineering and manufacturing marketplace.
The E3 Academy has been created with support from a number of companies and two leading United Kingdom universities – Newcastle and Nottingham – to try and reverse this damaging development. The start-up E3 Academy company partners are industry leaders Siemens Automation & Drives, Control Techniques, Parker SSD, Cummins Generator Technologies, GE Aviation and Converteam.
Students who are accepted as part of the E3 Academy intake at Nottingham or Newcastle Universities will enjoy a substantial support package during their years of study and beyond. The package includes an annual bursary of GBP2,500, eight weeks paid summer vacation training, places on summer schools, reimbursement of tuition fees after graduation and employment with one of the academy partner companies.
The E3 Academy is entirely self-financing with partners contributing an annual membership fee to help fund the work of the academy.
Professor Paul Acarnley, manager of the E3 Academy, comments: "It is vital for the future of U.K. industry that we try to reverse the dwindling numbers of young people who are opting to make engineering their chosen career. Leading U.K. companies are finding it a real challenge to fill engineering positions as the vast majority of students graduating from our universities do so from non-engineering courses. There is a looming skills shortage in a critical area of this nation's overall industrial output. We have to get the message across to pupils and parents who are making career choices that an engineering career can be as fulfilling, long-lasting and financially worthwhile as any other. If we do not halt the decline in engineering graduates, this country will face a real problem if we are to hold our own on an increasingly competitive global stage. That is how serious the work of the academy is and why we are fully supported by leading organizations such as the CBI."
Bob Owen, a chartered electrical engineer from partner company Siemens Automation & Drives, said: "The work of the E3 Academy can play a central role in the future health of our manufacturing and engineering capability. This country has always been at the forefront of electrical and electronic innovation and everyone must play their part in encouraging new generations to view such a career as stimulating, relevant and rewarding. The E3 Academy can set students on this road."
The courses available through the E3 Academy will allow students to study electrical engineering, control and automation in many key U.K. industry sectors, ranging from aerospace, automotive, marine, industrial manufacturing, renewable energies, process and utility industries.
Students wishing to find out more about the opportunities with the E3 Academy should visit: http://www.e3Academy.org.
A copy of Richard Lambert's speech from the May 16 launch can be viewed via IET.tv located at http://www.theiet.org.
