Projects like @engprofcouncil.bsky.social toolkits seem fundamental. Cooperation is more efficient than competition and supports us all to provide the best possible #EngineeringEducation as we strive to meet demand. epc.ac.uk/resources/to...

Nick talks about the initiatives from government to make Universities broaden access to higher education, as well as to make a stronger contribution to economic growth and play a greater civic role. #EPCCongress25 #EANCongress25

Nick also talks to the (real terms) collapse of student maintenance and the challenging issues this is causing students in living costs. These formulations have been static since Gordon Brown was PM. #EPCCongress25 #EANCongress25

While we are often (rightly) focused on the lack of women in the engineering industries and degrees, Nick also talks to the issues of men being in general, less likely to successfully access HE. #EPCCongress25 #EANCongress25

Nick reiterates the financial challenges in the sector and his concerns about whether the UK will get the funding position right.

#EPCCongress25 #EANCongress25

Nick starts off talking about his own detailed knowledge of Manchester and that Professor Malcolm Press’s keynote show why is is the incoming Universities UK President.

#EPCCongress25 #EANCongress25

He reminds us of our responsibilities as professors to shape the solutions. “Engineering is a high cost subject; it’s vital to the country; we need to make this clear to the government.” #EPCCongress25 #EANCongress25

That for instance, the GVA provided by Manchester Met (alone) is larger than both the much more visible Manchester football teams combined.

We also hear that we need to be optimistic and the impact we have on young minds if we don’t take a positive view.

#EPCCongress25 #EANCongress25

And we hear about the governments efforts in its AI Action Plan and challenges in Bioengineering (both close to the heart of @ulsteruni.bsky.social (pun somewhat intended)). @chionwurah.bsky.social at #EPCCongress25

#EPCCongress25

There is a sharp disparity between the @raeng.org.uk code for Engineering Ethics and the behaviour we see. There’s also a disparity in the terms we use for negative practice and their impact. @chionwurah.bsky.social at #EPCCongress25

We hear how people now feel engineering and technology is being “done to them in opaque ways”. This was something that needed to be addressed. @chionwurah.bsky.social at #EPCCongress25

We know there is significant regional disparity that must be resolved in the funding of research and innovation. “We need the talents of our entire country”. @chionwurah.bsky.social at #EPCCongress25.

And we hear how @chionwurah.bsky.social heard too often that she was an exception. “Diversity is not a tick box or nice to have but an economic imperative.” #EPCCongress25

We hear about @chionwurah.bsky.social childhood experiments to reproduce the discovery of Archimedes, but with her Mum’s pots and pans, on her journey to becoming an engineer (and the only CEng in the Commons). #EPCCongress25

@chionwurah.bsky.social talks of the challenges the world faces and how Science and Engineering are at the heart of resolving these. #EPCCongress25