Leaders of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) have noted a worldwide alarming trend and are taking steps to counter the situation. In Western Europe, Australia, Japan, and even India, the number of students attracted to engineering is declining. For example, a 2003 Harris poll conducted in the U.S. shows that only two percent of first year university students (and less than one percent of young women) want to major in computer science. The IEEE has become a driving force behind changing the perception of math and science-based careers. These low numbers raise concerns among leaders of industry and policy makers who believe that a large and well educated engineering workforce is essential to public welfare and technological progress. The decline in engineering student numbers threatens the operation of growth of a large number of organizations and corporations around the globe—entities involved in everything from research and development and healthcare to manufacturing and advanced computing. In fact, the IEEE recently partnered with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) to create a report entitled “Changing the Conversation,” and issued a call to action for the entire industry to come together to create a coordinated, multi‐year campaign to deliver the message that engineers make a world of difference – focused especially on young people who don’t see engineering as a place where they can dream. View thatreportand the original IEEEpress releaseonline.
IEEE Leaders Work to Encourage Engineering as a Career Choice
