The Australian National Engineering Taskforce (ANET) was launched last week in Melbourne. ANET is a collaboration of Engineers Australia, the Association of Professional Engineers Scientists and Managers Australia, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Australian Council of Engineering Deans and Consult Australia.
Its aim is to work with industry and government to develop a national solution to address the engineering skills shortage in Australia.
Speaking at the launch, Senator Jacinta Collins, parliamentary secretary for school education and workplace relations, said that engineers are vital to the country’s economic wealth.
The launch of the taskforce included the release of its report Scoping our future.
The report estimates that Australia produces less than half of its engineering workforce needs, with only around 6000 graduates annually. It predicts that up to 4000 extra engineers will be needed in the roads sector alone over the next eight years.
ANET has been funded by the federal Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to map skills development and formation across two key industries – roads and rail – and to identify barriers to articulation between VET and higher education for engineering students.
Its work will form the basis of a national workforce development plan in engineering.
More information about ANET is available at www.anet.org.au.
(Article courtesy of Engineers Australia)
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