The very nature of the global internet means a candidate may apply for a position practically anywhere,  subject of course to securing the necessary work permissions. This company regularly receives inquiries from India in particular. I was therefore interested to read that at a 3 day event called E-Cube 2008 held this week in Calcutta that Indian engineering (mechanincal, electrical, civil) undergraduate intake is currently 10.8% and enrolments are expected to grow to 15% by 2015.  That is staggering.

Conversely in the UK the popularity of engineering degrees among undergraduates is still in slow decline. 2006/7 only 5.9% of UCAS entrants took an engineering or technology subject, compared with 6.5% in 2000.

There are many barriers affecting the supply of UK engineering undergraduates principally lack of awareness of what an engineering career entails (poor careers advice and let’s be honest folks no iconic role models) and lack of mathematical preparedness from a GCSE and A’Level education.

Annual demand for engineers in the UK increases year on year by around 2% while 95% of firms report difficulties in finding candidates. So what is the future for the UK engineering industries and UK education system?

Well it would appear that in India, teaching of mathematics to a relevant standard and also encouraging students to enter engineering as a career choice is not a problem. So if a Purple Squirrel is the elusive candidate with exactly the right qualifications and capabilities to match the client requirements, then maybe future civil, mechanical and engineering Purple Squirrels will be found from India?