Articles | Maintaining the status quo is not an option

 

 

 

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Maintaining the status quo is not an option

A new approach to engineering education in Australia is urgently needed. 

Australia’s leading universities have released the first in a series of policy papers focussing on Securing the Future of Australia’s Engineering Workforce. Often cited by Civil Contractors as one of the key skills shortages, engineers are key in ensuring on time delivery of the current pipeline of works throughout Australia. 

Published via the ‘the Group of 8’(Go8) comprising representatives of Australia’s leading Universities, the report states that Australia will need to double its domestic production of Engineers to meet demand. 

To this end, the report makes 3 key recommendations: 

  1. A new funding model, addressing unique Engineering costs of education. 
  2. Priority places for Engineering, creating a larger pipeline of engineers in the education system. 
  3. A Governing council composed of Industry, University and Government.  

Go8 Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said ‘the Australian model for the university education of engineers is broken and maintaining the status quo is not an option.’ 

‘The implementation of our 3 recommendations is essential’ stated Ms Thomson ‘ they are critical for our national success and to address one of Australia’s most significant challenges – workforce capacity.' 

Skills demand for engineers is such that we are seeing cannibalisation of the workforce through poaching, resulting in a much higher staff turnover – impacting productivity, and the broader economy, as new staff are recruited and bought up to speed. 

The report states that while the solution requires targeted investment, this investment is dwarfed by the potential cost to Australia’s future economy if the status quo is maintained. 

The full report by the Group of 8 is available here: Securing the future of Australia’s Engineering Workforce

 

 

 

 

By Lee Gabbett, General Manager, The Institute of Civil Infrastructure (ICI) 

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