Engineering debate sets the pre-election agenda

David Willetts MP was on the panel at a Question Time-style event organised by the Institution's Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Area, attended by 100 people.

The lively debate, which was hosted by the University of Portsmouth, took place largely thanks to the work of Jason Crouch, publicity officer on the area committee. He invited local representative the Rt Hon David Willetts MP, and Dr Rhys Morgan, Director of Engineering Education from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Jason tirelessly publicised the event, using social media to great effect. The university’s Formula Student car was on display, and the team talked to guests informally before the debate.

Jason, his area committee colleagues and Gavin Kerby, Wessex Region YM, ensured that people could engage with the debate through Facebook and Twitter, and online via audiostream. An audio file recording of the full debate is now available online.

The evening’s discussion was chaired by Dr Colin Brown, the Institution's Director of Engineering (pictured below). Colin said: “The event serves as an excellent role model for members around the UK. The Manifesto, compiled by the Institution’s members and built up through PE magazine, will help us to set the agenda before the general election.

"We hope that IMechE regional committees will follow this example, and take the opportunity to hold debates on engineering issues with their local MPs in the months running up to May 7th 2015.”



Colin also observed a number of the Portsmouth event’s most successful features, saying it showed that:

• members of the Institution are fully able to set the agenda and engage local politicians in relevant, regional debates
• the Institution's Manifesto, which reflects members’ major areas of interest in engineering, and the UK’s industrial future, can be used in similar debates across the country
• the effective use of social media can engage a wide range of audience members, helping to broaden the debate
• the structure of the panel (including a Chairman and co-debater) enables the views of a local politician to be set in a discursive model, like an MP’s surgery, rather than a lecture
• the debate is challenging and lively, open and considered, and very strongly rooted in local engineering concerns

Among the topics raised were students’ fees and the skills shortage. Questions on Twitter covered issues such as girls in engineering, protecting the status of the engineering profession, and whether Physics ‘A’ level is an essential entry requirement for an engineering degree. There were further debates and questions raised on Facebook, in the run-up to, and during, the event.

Rhys Morgan (pictured below) opened the debate, building a great case for engineering and its central role in the economy, innovation and growth.



David Willetts outlined how the decline in UK engineering graduates is a big challenge for the economy: “We need to do far better at achieving a gender balance in engineering careers as the percentage of female mechanical engineers in the UK is very low indeed.”

He believes the A-Level system needs reviewing, as school students could be narrowing their choices too early on: “Unlike most other countries in Europe we expect young people at the age of 16 to take big decisions about what to specialise in.”

Colin said there was a “spirit of openness” throughout the evening, adding: “Not everybody needs to be a former science minister in order to produce a good debate for IMechE members. The important thing is that members engage local politicians to discuss issues that mean most to us as engineers. All MPs should be asked to tell us their views.”

“It would not have happened were it not for Jason’s huge energy, determination and doggedness, approaching David Willetts and Dr Morgan, and co-ordinating the many strands of questions adeptly. The Institution is really grateful to him for his dedication in setting up and running this effective debate.”



Jason (pictured above) said: “The feedback from attendees was fantastic. People commented that it was a great opportunity to get our views across to parliamentarians and to network with other engineers. Connections have been opened to local schools and colleges, the university and to other PEIs – we hope to have more joint events as a result. Our hard work has really paid off.”

Find out more about the Institution's Manifesto.