The past few weeks have been particularly frenetic with visits to Singapore and Malaysia and then various activities in the UK.  I am pleased to see there is considerable interest in IMechE in SE Asia and I was delighted to open a number of student chapters in Malaysian universities.  Our local branch has recruited over 750 students in recent times and the level of mathematics and science qualifications for entry into engineering courses is extremely high.  You feel a real desire of the young people in Malaysia and Singapore to pursue engineering - something perhaps of a contrast with the UK.  During my year as President I have tried to push the importance of maths and science teaching but we still have some way to go.  At a dinner with the Shadow Education Minister, David Willetts, we discussed this topic and briefed him on the fact that less than 10% of students at A level pursue physics - this is very worrying. 

On a brighter note I also had the pleasure of speaking at the Great Environmental Briefing organised by my old region Thameswey.  They packed the Reading Town Hall with over 450 people plus several hundred more joined us on the Internet.  A team of world class specialists spoke about environmental issues and what professional engineers should be thinking about, and doing, and then we opened up the meeting for discussion.  There was much lively debate in the room and across the Internet.  Who would have thought a meeting on a Wednesday evening in Reading would result in us discussing a question sent from a listener in New Zealand?!

The Trustee Board are meeting at Keele University this week and then joining the Young Engineers Conference.  Following that I look forward to attending the Midlands Engineering Dinner. It is great to see our regions so active in raising the profile of engineering.

Yours Aye

John

Comments

[Avijit Suman]

Hello Sir,
It is very heartening to note that your institution IMechE is doing great under your able leadership.
I am Avijit Suman, a 2nd year Mechanical Engineering student at BITS(Birla Institute of Technology & Science)-Pilani, Rajasthan, India.As you might be knowing, BITS-Pilani, is one of the best Engineering Institutes in India and it would be exciting if we opened an IMechE chapter here. What i wish to find out is, what IMechE as a Chapter at an engineering institute stands to offer to its students and is there any other such IMechE chapter in India. Also, does IMechE wish to start a new chapter here at BITS?
I shall be waiting for your reply very eagerly.
Good Day.

-Avijit Suman.
email:avijit99@gmail.com
mobile:0919950675007