Graduate civil engineers: defining a new breed

There is now a real shortage of civil engineering graduates in the UK and, more importantly, a shortage of graduates with appropriate skills to meet the needs of the construction industry. As this paper explains, this is one of several drivers for change in the educational base of civil engineers—the others being the UK Spec, the national qualification framework and the newly formed ConstructionSkills council. But to encourage students to enter the profession there also needs to be clear, simple messages to define civil engineering and what civil engineers do so that the excitement, importance and challenge of the profession can emerge. This will be achieved through increased interaction between industry and higher education.