31 January 2002
New ACE chairman calls for engineering education rethink
University engineering departments need to take a critical look at the way
they portray the profession, change their image and bring themselves into
the 21st century, said Rod Macdonald following his election as the new
chairman of the Association of Consulting Engineers (ACE).
Macdonald, 57, a founding partner with engineers Buro Happold, made his
comments in an article for the February issue of ACE's monthly magazine,
Consult, in which he argued for radical thinking to attract young people
into engineering. "Engineering is about listening, getting the idea across,
operating the wheels of power and motivating people. These are not the
images of engineering put across by career advisors and the profession loses
out as a result", said Macdonald.
Macdonald said he was keen to see the various industry initiatives, set up
to attract young people into engineering, brought together in order to make
the initiatives more effective. "We need to ensure that the right people are
using their valuable time effectively, enthusing pupils, our engineers of
the future, in the right way," he said.
Commenting on his role as new ACE chairman, Macdonald said: "I am privileged
to hold this position at a time of great change in the industry. I am
looking forward to building on initiatives like the ACE's Engineering the
Future campaign to raise the profile of the profession and to increasing the
strength and influence of the Association over the coming year."
Further information is available from Andy Walker ACE on 020 7222 6557 (Ext. 125) or 07736 667591(mobile).
