{"id":92918,"date":"2018-06-18T12:24:55","date_gmt":"2018-06-18T12:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=6548820c3f309756b380d2d1070d2769"},"modified":"2018-06-18T12:24:55","modified_gmt":"2018-06-18T12:24:55","slug":"speech-engineering-success-vital-to-zimbabwes-future-uk-ambassador","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=92918","title":{"rendered":"Speech: Engineering success vital to Zimbabwe’s future: UK ambassador"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

I am delighted to be at this workshop, which showcases the great collaboration between Britain and countries in the region in developing better futures for ourselves \u2013 and for our children.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m delighted too that through the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Global Challenges Research Fund, these two great institutions of higher learning are working together: the National University of Science and Technology here in Bulawayo, which has an enviable reputation in Zimbabwe and beyond of producing well-rounded graduates in the science and technology fields, and the University of Strathclyde in Scotland \u2013 where, as many of you will know, the weather has been very different in the last couple of weeks to what we\u2019ve been seeing in Zimbabwe! So – this is an exciting and innovative collaboration.<\/p>\n

Year of Engineering<\/h2>\n

Some of you will know that the UK government has named 2018 – this year – as the Year of Engineering.
\nThat\u2019s because we want to boost engineering across the UK, making sure that everyone has the skills that are needed to thrive in a modern economy. One of our big concerns is to up the number of people studying engineering in the UK, including girls. But the UK isn\u2019t just looking inwards. Obviously we\u2019re delighted that the Royal Academy of Engineering is also working with partners to boost the capacity of engineering students and the faculties that teach them here in Zimbabwe \u2013 and in several other countries in southern Africa.<\/p>\n

\u2018What challenges can I solve?\u2019<\/h2>\n

I\u2019m going to quote the head of the Royal Academy \u2013 Dame Ann Dowling \u2013 who said this very recently: \u201cEngineers look at the world around them and think \u2018how can I make it a better place? What challenges can I solve?<\/p>\n

Engineering success is absolutely vital to the future of the UK, Zimbabwe and indeed all countries.
\nWe\u2019ve seen how in the UK what a massive contribution engineering and engineering research makes to the UK economy and to the lives of UK citizens. Back in 2015 it was reported that engineering-related sectors had contributed around 280 billion POUNDS to the UK\u2019s Gross Value Added in 2011 \u2013 about 20 percent of the total.<\/p>\n

Impact throughout the economy<\/h2>\n

UK engineering companies are having an impact throughout the economy and society: in transport, construction, energy and manufacturing, digital, communications and media.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been looking through some of the big names in UK engineering \u2013 names like Morgan Sindall, Balfour Beatty and Jaguar Land Rover. Some of these companies have a long and illustrious history, facing challenges head-on and innovating as the marketplace changed. I\u2019ve also been interested to see the push to recognise and celebrate the contribution that young apprentices make to British engineering firms: Blue Engineering, a small firm based in Shoreditch, London, said just 10 days ago that hiring apprentices was \u201cintegral\u201d to its growth strategy and \u201cmade sure the firm was always at the front of engineering innovation\u201d.<\/p>\n

Working with young talent<\/h2>\n

In the UK we\u2019re clear that working with young talent is the way to go for engineering success – and we know that there will be similar success for Zimbabwe\u2019s engineering industry.<\/p>\n

Zimbabwe\u2019s real wealth is in its people \u2013 in the innovation and creativity that so many Zimbabweans I interact with display.<\/p>\n

I thank you.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Speech by HMA Catriona Laing at a Royal Academy of Engineering Workshop at NUST University in Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92918"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=92918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/92918\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=92918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=92918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=92918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}