After 12 years working as a manufacturing engineer, I wanted a new role that would allow me to continue to use my engineering expertise and passion for the sector, while gaining more flexibility and balancing work with looking after my children. Teaching in further education seemed like the perfect fit, so I decided to complete my Postgraduate in Education and started teaching engineering at my local college. Teaching in FE is easy to transition into as an industry professional as you don’t always need to have a teaching qualification to get started. You can complete teacher training on the job, meaning you can begin earning straight away.
Further education (FE) is any formal learning for those aged 16 and over that is not a degree. Learners range from those who have just finished their GCSEs to adults of all ages looking to change career or learn a new trade.
I really enjoy being able to share my existing skills in this way and it’s exciting to be inspiring the next generation of engineers. I know it can be challenging being a woman in a male dominated sector, with less role models and female leaders to guide you in your career. Recent research shows only 16.5 per cent of all engineers in the UK are women. While this has increased over the last decade, (there were only 10.5 per cent were female engineers in 2010) there’s clearly still more work to do to ensure we are creating a diverse and inclusive workforce in the sector.
I believe teaching in FE can play an important role in helping to achieve this balance. Industry professionals have a wealth of experience, skills and real-life anecdotes to share that are invaluable within FE settings. You don’t have to give up your career in industry to start teaching, FE is flexible with opportunities to teach part time alongside your existing role. I think there’s an opportunity for those currently working in the sector to help ensure we are supporting a pipeline of diverse, well-trained individuals, passionate about the work we do.
The power of a positive role model
Having female engineering role models in our education settings sends an important to message to women and girls that this is an industry for you. It comes down to that great quote: ‘If you can’t see it, you can’t be it’.
I always consider this when I teach my FE classes. Regardless of age or gender – it’s important for all learners to see and be inspired by women working in the sector.
Learning by example
It is crucial that engineering professionals capture the imagination of our learners with new ideas. Bringing our real-life experience to practical elements of the course is engaging for students and makes the course more memorable and exciting.
For example, when I teach Lean Manufacturing, which was my main job role as an engineer, I am able to share my industry experience of embedding lean manufacturing techniques into a manufacturing process with learners. I explain the process, but can also then outline the real life impact it had on the efficiencies and quality improvement to the product.
We also do an activity where learners divide into two teams to complete a task using batch production of parts and one-piece flow using letters, envelopes and stamps. The aim is to complete the task in the fastest time, with learners discovering that the one-piece flow is more efficient than batch production.
Simple and fun activities like this help embed lean principles and prove a theory, while engaging the students. This helps all my learners, but especially the women and girls – to imagine themselves working in the sector and consider if it is something they want to do.
Increasing the diversity and gender balance within the engineering workforce isn’t just better for society, it’s better for business. With more women in our industry, we can achieve better diversity of ideas that push forwards innovation in the sector.
For the next pipeline of engineers to be diverse and inclusive as a workforce – they need the knowledge and skills to succeed - but also inspiration from professionals currently working in the sector. I believe industry professionals have a unique role to play in working closely with FE providers to help address the gender gap in our workforce and support learners of any age or gender to kick start their engineering career.
Jenna Saberton, engineering study programme manager and lecturer at The Cornwall College Group
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