31.1 C
Belize City
Thursday, March 28, 2024

World Down Syndrome Day

Photo: Students and staff of Stella Maris...

BPD awards 3 officers with Women Police of the Year

Photo: (l-r) Myrna Pena, Carmella Cacho, and...

Suicide on the rise!

Photo: Iveth Quintanilla, Mental Health Coordinator by Charles...

Youth in Engineering

FeaturesYouth in Engineering

Engineering is an exciting field of work; however, the industry has an ever-aging workforce that needs to be replaced and is currently offset by an acute shortage of skilled young engineers capable of filling the roles that are being made available. To ensure that Belize will have enough young engineers for future sustainable development, it is necessary to encourage and inspire youths to take on contemporary challenges. The way to achieve this is by increasing the number of students studying engineering at the tertiary level so as to maintain and improve the socio-economic development of our society. The University of Belize currently offers three Associate degree programs, namely, Mechanical-Electrical Engineering, Building Civil Engineering, and Architectural Technology. UB’s Engineering Department will offer its first Bachelor of Technology degree program in Construction in August 2022. The course will provide youths with opportunities to advance their interests in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

With a shift in the way the industry works, now is an ideal time for young people to fill the skills gap, particularly since the industry is being modernized and greater emphasis is being placed on replacing laborers with technology and efficient working practices. The issue that many engineering companies are faced with at the moment is a severe lack of skilled young workers applying for vacant roles. While young people may be applying for these vacancies, they simply don’t have the relevant skills or experience to succeed without significant and sustained levels of training.

It’s fair to say that steps have been taken in recent years to try and address this obvious need, but more must be done if the industry is to grow with qualified, young engineers at the helm. One such step is the Associate degree programs at the University of Belize which help students to transition from academic life to the construction industry or the mechanical-electrical industry. They complete the course as technicians prepared to take on complex roles in the workplace, from architectural designs and drawings in the architectural technology program to construction supervision and site management in the building civil engineering program. Students in the mechanical-electrical program are prepared to take on industry-related tasks such as servicing, operating, managing, and designing basic mechanical and/or electrical systems.

One of the underlying reasons for this shortage of skilled young engineers comes from the fact that students are simply not encouraged to pursue a career in STEM subjects early enough. The truth is that many students do not get exposed to engineering and technology-related subjects until they get to third and fourth forms. By the time they reach sixteen years of age, the appeal of taking up a profession in this field has already been lost. So what can be done? Young people need to be encouraged to participate in vital training that is necessary within the engineering sector. Each of the programs being offered by the university entails a month-long internship. These placements are developed through close relationships between the Engineering Department and industry stakeholders, including various architectural firms and construction companies. Via practicum, students get an opportunity to observe and participate in projects that are undertaken by Thurton & Thurton Associates, International Environments, Maheia’s Construction, M&M Engineering Ltd., and Young’s Engineering. Mechanical-electrical engineering students often intern at Belize Electricity Ltd., ASR/BSI, and Santander.

It is important for children to gain a comprehensive education; however, introducing apprenticeships from an earlier age is a possible solution for the shortage of suitable engineering candidates. An apprenticeship during the freshman year of high school, for a semester or more, can help a student develop the basic skills needed to make it in the industry. This is in line with the idea that teachers, parents, and employers must do more to feature modern engineering workplace functions. Educators must also understand how to get young women into engineering. A new approach has to be devised and employed when trying to encourage young women to enroll in the engineering curriculum. While future salary expectations have been one of the key selling points engineering companies use to entice young people into a career in the field, that approach just isn’t an effective tactic to engage young women. Instead, they should be encouraged by the prospect of simply having an interesting job.

Companies, as well as schools and colleges, can explore myriad ways to encourage young people to get into the engineering industry in the years ahead. It is fair to say that if more young people cannot be persuaded into a career in engineering from an earlier age, the future of the industry will remain uncertain. Fortunately, there is still time to address this issue before things become unsustainable.

Check out our other content

World Down Syndrome Day

Suicide on the rise!

Check out other tags:

International