Degree to stem engineer shortage

A new master's degree programme in the technical field is set to begin in the next academic year.

The worldwide shortage of qualified specialised workers is expected to grow increasingly urgent, with surveys showing that engineers are, on average, 50 years old.

A new master's degree programme has been launched to address an "urgent need" for young engineers in industries such as oil and gas. The British University in Dubai (BUiD) will offer a master's degree in systems engineering. The programme will also address needs in sectors such as aviation, manufacturing, transport and logistics. "There is an urgent need for young professionals," said a statement from BUiD.

To fill the demand for systems engineers, companies have had to recruit from overseas or sponsor students to study abroad, said officials at the university, which is based in Dubai's Knowledge Village. The worldwide shortage of qualified specialised workers is expected to grow increasingly urgent, with surveys showing that engineers are, on average, 50 years old. Subjects such as aerospace and robotic systems, power generation and industrial manufacturing will be included in the course, which is scheduled to be offered beginning in the next academic year.

Dr Abdullah al Shamsi, the vice chancellor of BUiD, said the course had "huge potential" for addressing a "skills gap" in engineering across the Middle East. "It is evident that many of the region's most important industries, including the energy and aviation sectors, are looking for a new generation of professionals, as are some of the most strategically important sectors of the future, such as industrial manufacturing and robotic engineering," he said.

The course is accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research's Commission for Academic Accreditation. It is also approved by the University of Manchester's School of Mechanical, Aeronautical and Civil Engineering. The BUiD, which conducts courses with five partner institutions in the UK, serves about 400 master's degree students, each of whom spends at least four months on a research project.

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