Education of Engineers in European Countries

Abstract

Systems of education in certain European countries are surveyed in detail in relation to the special circumstances of each country. Reference is also made to the numbers of those trained in allied branches of science. In addition to this provision, it was found that in these countries technical schools and colleges exist which cater for ‘technicians’ and in which considerable numbers of students attend full-time courses and reach standards roughly comparable to Higher National Certificate (H.N.C.)

Among other matters, the survey reveals that, in spite of the fact that Great Britain is the most industrialized country of those considered, in the relative numbers of engineers educated to degree level it shares with Austria and Belgium the lowest positions. The lack of qualified engineers to fill posts abroad is mentioned, a lack which, in the long-term, must lead to loss of trade. On the other hand, Britain's position with respect to higher degrees is relatively better.

Notwithstanding Britain's need for engineers, there are vacancies in some of her universities. The ‘bottle-neck’ in the supply is in the restricted numbers studying science in the sixth forms of schools; to make use of the increasing provision now being made for high-level engineering studies, these are the numbers most in need of attention.