Why Do Engineering

Prosperity in the present century will depend on the innovative skills and knowledge that can be successful in the global economy. Much trade will take place in elaborately transformed manufactured goods that have very high values compared with the commodities from which they are produced. The present century also presents challenges in energy production and efficiency, high quality water supplies, clean air, land management, communications and transport.

These competitive and community needs will be met by engineers who can work at the leading edge of technology and, indeed, keep moving that edge forward. Engineers who can make a significant contribution at that level will need research training seen as World's Best Practice.

A PhD in engineering provides the necessary training at the leading edge of technology. A PhD is internationally recognised and inter-country standards are maintained by using examiners from other countries. Undertaking research in engineering is very different to undergraduate studies. Most of the time is spent on a project under the supervision of one or more academic staff and, sometimes, senior industry-based researchers. PhD scholars have significant freedom in the choice of project and the way the research is conducted and so such studies provide a significant opportunity to make an original contribution to the core of engineering knowledge. Even to those who eventually intend to become managers of engineering enterprises, the skills in problem solving, the ingenuity of experimentation and the critical analysis of results, all of which are acquired in a research degree, are immensely valuable.