Second level education and the decline in popularity of engineering within an Irish context

This paper examines the obligatory but often contentious relationship that; exists between contemporary second level education and undergraduate student; course choice within an Irish context. A survey of 1,723 students from across four; second level schools and all year groups was conducted asking students to elect a; future career they would most like to pursue. The results of this survey served to; highlight the declining allure of engineering as a future career for students as they; progress through second level. Focus groups were held in all four schools in order to; identify current motivations behind student course choice, as well as students’; perceptions regarding the decline in undergraduate engineering numbers. Students; frequently highlighted future career prospects, as well as current matriculation; requirements as mitigating factors in the uptake of undergraduate engineering degree; programmes. Finally this paper also compares and contrasts the perceptions and; motivations of current second level students with those of existing undergraduate; engineers.