Push to integrate engineering in STEM primary education

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has started a movement with the aim to terminate the STEM skill shortage across the UK. The deficit is predicted to have a severe impact on the economy, with a yearly cost of £1.5 billion. The movement asked the administration to collaborate with both industry and educators to integrate engineering into STEM learning.

The skill deficit is predicted to be over 170,000 in the STEM industry, with just under half of businesses in the engineering sector claiming they are finding it hard to recruit employees because of the limited available abilities.

One solution would be integrating engineering into education, primarily primary schools, which would assist in reducing the increasing skill shortages we are experiencing in the UK. This would also help boost the #EngineeringKidsFutures campaign.

The most recent Past President at the IET, Professor Danielle George, said “To ‘build back better’ and fully embrace the ‘green industrial revolution’ promised by the government it is essential to start with solid foundations. By adding more focus on misunderstood terms like engineering and technology, where we know there is a perception problem, it will help young people from all backgrounds learn vital engineering and tech skills early on and increase their career aspirations. We propose collaboration between the government, STEM education supporters, academia, and industry to provide teachers with the tools to showcase that science, design & technology and maths have vital elements of engineering within them and proactively encourage the teaching of engineering in our primary schools.”

He continued: “This focus and support for schools is fundamental if we want to futureproof the next generation of engineers. And these benefits extend far beyond the classroom – from higher earnings to better job satisfaction, our research shows that those in STEM careers can hit life goals such as financial independence much sooner than their peers.”

An open letter has been signed and sent to the UK administration which demands Engineering Kids’ Futures should be launched in education systems by September 2022. Over 150 of the UK’s most prestigious engineering and technology employers have backed this decision by signing the letter; some of these businesses are Rolls Royce, Thames Water and EON.

presenter & Aerospace Engineer at Rolls-Royce, Andrew Smyth, said that “Data suggests that 65 per cent of our children will eventually work in a job doesn’t yet exist. If we truly want to help the next generation of young workers thrive in a digital world, futureproofing their education must be a priority. It’s our duty of care as employers and business owners to provide children with equal opportunities to learn vital engineering and technology skills that will allow them to prosper in the modern workforce later in life.”