Engineering Training for Young People: The Decline of Initial Training for Engineering and the Prospects for Revival

Abstract

Within the context of the decline in the numbers of young people entering engineering training in recent years, with the many and complex causes ranging from demographic realities to social attitudes, reviews some of the policy (and other) changes which have influenced engineering (and other) training during the period of decline. The hope that better times are now possible, although by default rather than by design, emerges. Statistics are avoided but the context is indicated by the numbers of those at the earliest certificated stage of training in engineering over recent years.