Students Opt For UK Chemical Engineering
A record number of undergraduates have chosen to study chemical engineering at UK universities this year according to new figures published by UCAS.
Provisional 2009 intake statistics show that 1826 students enrolled on chemical engineering degree courses this year, up by 11% on last year's intake and twice the national average increase across all courses.
There are now a record number of students in the UK studying the subject and Andrew Furlong, Director of Policy at the Institution of Chemical Engineers says it's good news for the economy: "The developing world is producing more high quality engineers and scientists and it's essential that the UK has the skills to compete internationally to create the high value, technology based industries of the future.
"This is the eighth year of continuous growth in UK chemical engineering. The whynotchemeng campaign has played a central role in improving the appeal and perception of a career in the process industries and the message is hitting home with young people."
IChemE launched the whynotchemeng campaign in 2001 in response to the ailing number of students applying to study chemical engineering in the UK. The campaign is jointly funded by the Institution, industry employers and universities.
Interest in chemical engineering degree courses has risen steadily since a trough in 2001 when just 940 students enrolled. Intake numbers have increased every year since then but Furlong says that maintaining the growth gets tougher each year: "Despite its economic importance, chemical engineering courses are expensive and we must safeguard current levels of investment in departments.
"We face major challenges, not least in the areas of sustainable food, water and energy production. This is not the time to turn down the heat and IChemE will continue to promote chemical engineering as a career choice at every available opportunity."
Jonathan Seville, Dean of Engineering at Warwick University says that the turnaround in student interest is down to sheer hard work: "In the last few years we have seen a concerted effort by departments, IChemE and committed individuals to project the image of the subject as widely and as excitingly as possible. This has made the difference between simply recovering a little and the really strong recovery we are now seeing."
Ugur Tuzan, a chemical engineering professor at the University of Surrey says: "Chemical engineering is enjoying a rebirth as a pillar professional discipline connecting with all the key issues of the world economy, human society and the ecological environment.
"It is a great time to rediscover how one can reshape the world for the better through this most exciting of engineering and science disciplines."
About chemical engineers
Chemical, biochemical and process engineering is the application of science, maths and economics to the process of turning raw materials into everyday products. Professional chemical engineers design, construct and manage process operations all over the world. Pharmaceuticals, food and drink, synthetic fibres and clean drinking water are just some of the products where chemical engineering plays a central role.
About IChemE
IChemE (Institution of Chemical Engineers) is the hub for chemical, biochemical and process engineering professionals worldwide. With a growing global membership of some 30,000, the Institution is at the heart of the process community, promoting competence and a commitment to best practice, advancing the discipline for the benefit of society, encouraging young people in science and engineering and supporting the professional development of its members. For more information, visit www.icheme.org
SOURCE: IChemE