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Engineering:Issues and Challenges for Development

UNESCO Report

Produced in conjunction with:World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO)

International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS)International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC)

The UNESCO Report, “Engineering: Issues and Challenges for Development”, will have a soft launch at the World Engineers’ Convention in December 2008, with publication and hard-copy launch at UNESCO in spring 2009.

Copies will then be available from:

UNESCO Publishing7, place de Fontenoy75352 – Paris 07 SPFrancewww.unesco.org/publicationsGeneral information: [email protected]

Orders and follow-up:DL Services sprl – Jean De LannoyB 1190 [email protected]

Engineers create knowledge, technology and infrastructure - our knowledge societies and economies are built by engineers and much of the history of civilisation is the history of engineering, which is perhaps the oldest profession.

Engineering is so successful and pervasive, however, that it can be taken for granted and overlooked by the public and policy makers. At the same time, less young people in many countries are going into engineering, and there are worldwide concerns about declining human capacity and the consequences for poverty reduction and sustainable development. Reports of shortages of engineers in key sectors are common. This is compounded by the brain-drain of engineers from developing countries and out of engineering. These issues are linked, however, and provide an opportunity for change: the public perception of engineering re�ects the changing needs for engineering and need for engineering to change, and young people are concerned about global issues and attracted to engineering as a means to address them.

What is engineering, and what do engineers do? How does engineering drive development? Why is engineering often overlooked? How can engineers engage in policy more e�ectively? How can we promote public awareness and understanding of engineering? Why are young people turning away from engineering and what can we do? More broadly, how many engineers do countries need, in what areas, and at what levels? What are the consequences of not enough engineers?

These are major issues and challenges facing engineering, and are compounded by the recent �nancial and economic crisis - at a time when we need increased investment in engineering capacity building, R&D and infrastructure. These are also important issues for UNESCO, the UN agency responsible for science (which includes engineering). An overall goal of the report is to explore these issues and challenges and the application of engineering to development, and of the development of engineering. We urgently need to recognise, understand and address these issues and challenges. Failure to do so will have serious consequences for global initiatives such as addressing the Millennium Development Goals, and for the capacity to respond to the challenges of the future.

The report shares information, experience, practical ideas and examples for policy-makers, decision-takers, planners and governments to promote the engagement and application of engineering to important global agendas. The report examines the situation and context of engineering – areas of engineering, the engineering profession, a review of engineering around the world, the future of engineering, capacity needs, engineering and technical education and training systems and applications of engineering.

The report will have a soft launch at the World Engineers’ Convention in Brasilia on 2-6 December 2008, and be published at UNESCO in spring 2009.

For further information, please contact the Editor of the Report:Tony Marjoram, Head of Engineering, Basic and Engineering Sciences, UNESCOtel: +331 456 84178; fax:+331 456 85821/85820, email: [email protected]

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Foreword: Director-General, UNESCOPreface: Assistant Director-General for Natural SciencesStatements: Presidents of WFEO, CAETS, FIDICExecutive Summary

1. Introduction

Presents the main focus of the report, the target audience, what engineering is, what engineers do and the main issues and challenges facing engineering, especially engineering education and capacity building, and the application of engineering in development, especially the UN Millennium Development Goals, poverty reduction, sustainable development and climate change.

2. Engineering and development

This chapter presents a brief overview of the history of engineering and engineering at UNESCO. The role and importance of engineering and innovation in social and economic development is discussed and emphasised, and the fact that this is often overlooked by the media, public and policy makers. The role of engineers in society and of the social responsibility of engineers and engineering are also presented, and the need for better information and

communication to promote the link between engineering and development.

3. Engineering: Emerging and future issues and challenges

This chapter looks �rst at engineering, foresight and forecasts of the future. Emerging and future areas of engineering are presented, and the future challenge for young engineers – as engineers of the future. The increasing importance of international cooperation in engineering is presented, and the role of engineering and technology in the third millennium discussed.

4. Status report, issues and challenges for engineering

This chapter is a review of engineering “needs and numbers”, with reference to statistics and indicators on education, capacity and capacity building, and the need to enhance data gathering and analysis, particularly in developing countries. Various �elds of engineering are discussed, and the role of engineers in various sectors and contexts, including engineering and society, policy, ethics, the social responsibility of engineers and need to develop engineering studies. Particular issues and challenges include change in engineering education, women and gender issues in engineering.

5. Engineering around the world - regional and country overviews

This chapter examines the situation of engineering around the world in a series of regional and country overviews. Regional overviews from Africa, the Arab States, Asia and the Paci�c, Europe, Americas and Caribbean are complemented by country overviews from each region, as one-page boxes for each country overview.

6. Engineering applications: issues and challenges for development

This chapter begins with engineering infrastructure and the themes of water supply, sanitation, waste disposal, energy, transportation and communications. There is speci�c reference to “infrastructure report cards”, as reviews of infrastructure and promoting public interest in engineering. Particular issues and challenges that are explored include addressing the UN Millennium Development Goals, especially poverty reduction, sustainable development, climate change, engineering and emergencies.

7. Engineering capacity: issues and challenges for education and training

This chapter discusses engineering capacity and associated issues regarding the demand for and supply of engineers. Particular issues and challenges facing engineering education, training and capacity building include declining enrolment (especially women), mobility, brain drain and impact on capacity, continuing engineering education and

professional development, reforms in engineering education, engineering accreditation and standards. Related topics include the need to embed sustainability into engineering education and examples of centres focusing on engineering education for development.

8. Concluding remarks: engineering for a better world

The �nal chapter of the Report re�ects on the main issues and challenges facing engineering in social and economic development, and discusses how we may best address these issues and challenges and promote engineering for a better world.

AppendicesEngineering indicatorsList of boxes/photographsReferences/Bibliography/GlossaryIndex

Engineer ing : Issues and Chal lenges for DevelopmentEngineering is of vital importance in human, economic, social and cultural development and inaddressing the UN Millennium Development Goals, especially poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.

Over recent years the engineering community has emphasised to UNESCO the need for a report looking at engineering around the world and in particular at the role of engineering in international development. The concept of the report was approved by the Director-General of UNESCO in January 2007. The concept document was developed, discussed, potential contributors were identi�ed and more than one-hundred contributions have been received – underlining the commitment of the engineering community around the world to this report.

This is the �rst ever international report on engineering from UNESCO, and it is intended to:

identify issues and challenges facing engineering promote better public understanding of engineering and its role in society, and highlight ways of making engineering and engineering education more

attractive to young people, especially women.

The report is written for decision- makers, the engineering community, and the public at large to enhance understanding to better address these issues and challenges.

The breadth and depth of engineering and ambitious scale of the project have necessitated the need for selectivity, limits on the length of contributions and longer timelines than initially expected. We would welcome comments and feedback for future UNESCO reports on engineering.

The Report is co-ordinated and edited by Tony Marjoram of the Basic and Engineering Sciences Division of the Natural Sciences Sector of UNESCO, and is produced in conjunction with the World Federation of Engineering Organisations, International Council of Academies of Engineering and Technological Sciences and the International Federation of Consulting Engineers. I would like to thank these partners and all the contributors for their cooperation in the production of this groundbreaking report.

Walter Erdelen,Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO

1. Introduction

UNESCO Report

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UNESCO Report

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