Anyone who is involved with or has an interest in the automotive industry knows how vital engineering is to it. Without engineering, companies would not be able to produce the vehicles that we like to drive or the cutting-edge parts to go into them either.
The foundation of engineering within the automotive industry is having a steady flow of competent engineers. Education is key to this because it arms engineers with the knowledge they need in this crucial role. Over the last few decades, engineering education has evolved in tandem with the auto sector.
How has this happened?
Mode of delivery has shifted
Everyone knows the impact that technology has had within the auto sector. The impact of tech has also been felt in engineering education. Online courses are becoming very popular and see students learn from homevia the internet. Not only are these types of course more flexible, but they can also be cheaper and allow you to study the program you want, even if you do not live where the institution that offers it is based.
Take the master’s degree in engineering that globally renowned Kettering University offers now. This program is 100% online, which makes it much more convenient for students to fit into their busy lives. The real clincher is that studying this online engineering course still offers the world-class learning that Kettering is known for and gives access to its extensive alumni network.
What is being taught is different now
What is being taught in engineering has also changed. This again is only natural and helps students gain qualifications that get them ready to work in the auto sector. Modern auto-technicians need high-tech skills now, for example, and the same is true for engineers. This means that modern engineering coursesinclude modules on things such as electric vehicles manufacture,autonomous vehicle engineering, and more.
More diverse and inclusive
It is fair to say that working in an engineering role in the past was not always something that women felt able to do. Much of this was down to not only the previous culture in the sector, but also the access that women had to the right education. Some high schools in the past, for example, might have been guilty of not encouraging girls to study science subjects or IT.
Luckily, this has changed massively in recent years and engineering education is something that has opened up to everyone. The net result has been more women getting an engineering education, and this has seen 50%of jobs in STEM now held by women.
Engineering education has changed in recent years
As the above shows, there is no doubt that recent years have seen changes to engineering education, and this is particularly relevant to the modern auto industry. By evolving in this way, institutions that educate the next generation of engineers ensure that the graduates they produce have the skills needed by companies.
