Engineers assume responsibility for education
To mark UNESCO World Engineers' Day, a groundbreaking media conference was held on 4 March at the premises of Emch+Berger AG in Bern, organized jointly by suisse.ing, IngCH, SVIN and SIA. Under the motto "Engineers take responsibility for education", important topics relating to the importance of the engineering professions for Swiss society and the economy were highlighted. At the same time, a new initiative was presented that aims to boost the appreciation of the engineering sector and the recruitment of future specialists.
Systemic relevance of engineering services and demand for skilled workers
Swiss infrastructure has a replacement value of over CHF 500 billion and forms an essential basis for the country's economic development. Suisse.ing President Andrea Galli emphasized that engineers play a key role in tackling social challenges such as mobility, climate change and the energy transition.
Switzerland is accustomed to high-quality infrastructure
Switzerland is internationally renowned for its high-quality infrastructure. Unfortunately, however, there is a lack of awareness of the importance of this infrastructure and therefore also of the engineering sector. The maintenance and development of infrastructure is essential for the country's economic development, the provision of essential services to the population and modern social life. The maintenance, renovation and expansion of Swiss infrastructure are the country's essential needs and require high-quality research and teaching in infrastructure topics.
Serious consequences of federal budget cuts
At the same time, the industry is struggling with a skills shortage of historic proportions that urgently needs to be addressed. According to forecasts by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the engineering sectors are suffering the most from the structural shortage of workers with a tertiary education. Numerous current societal challenges are directly dependent on the expertise of engineers. At the same time, the engineering sciences are facing challenges such as budget cuts in teaching and research. "In order to guarantee a stable infrastructure, the federal government, education and industry must act together. If study places are cut, professorships are not filled and basic research is minimized for budget reasons, this will have serious consequences for Switzerland's entire infrastructure," said Andrea Galli, President of suisse.ing.
Awareness-raising work: private sector activities and joint initiatives
The private sector is actively involved in promoting young talent, offering technology weeks, girls' days and workshops and providing information about the diversity of engineering professions. A new initiative by the associations suisse.ing, IngCH, SVIN and SIA was presented as part of UNESCO World Engineers' Day. Around 750 books entitled "All about engineering - planning - technology" will be distributed directly to schoolchildren by engineers in the future. They will go into schools to introduce children and young people to the fascination of the industry. "Every child is a potential engineer. Direct interaction with schools is an important part of raising awareness of our industry, increasing the attractiveness of the various engineering professions and attracting more skilled workers to our industry," says Livia Brahier, Head of Communications at suisse.ing.
Personal perspectives and practical examples
Amélie Rieder, MSc in Civil Engineering EPFL, Emch+Berger AG Bern, gave a first-hand account of her decision to become an engineer and her experiences as a young woman in the industry. She spoke about the diversity and individuality of each project, the fascination with technology, as well as the interpersonal collaboration that this profession entails.
Source: www.suisse.ing
