REcent survey by IChemE shows that chemical engineering students are shunning the minerals processing, nuclear, pulp and paper sectors to pursue careers in biotechnology
The report - published in IChemE's Education for Chemical Engineers journal - shows biotechnology a clear leader out of 15 preferred career options for undergraduate chemical engineering students asked to select their most desirable employment sector on graduation.
The survey was completed by more than 2500 undergraduate students across 15 universities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Thailand, UK, USA, and Vietnam.
Report author, Professor David Shallcross (University of Melbourne, Australia) says that the findings reflect a changing attitude to chemical engineering: "Chemical Engineering education has traditionally focused on supplying graduates to the petrochemicals, and oil and gas industries with examples used throughout the courses often drawn almost exclusively from these industries".
"Meanwhile new industries, such as the biotechnology, have emerged to employ chemical engineers while older industries such as dairy have also turned to chemical engineering graduates".
The survey also highlights considerable differences between students in different countries, as well as between the different sexes, including:.
Lower interest in the environmental sector in the UK than in Australia, Canada, the USA, and Vietnam.
A considerably greater interest in the financial sector among UK students than all other nations.
Strong appeal of the food and drink sector in Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam compared to other countries.
A greater appeal of the IT sector among Canadian students than other nations.
Little interest in the glass and ceramics, minerals processing, nuclear, and pulp and paper sectors generally.
Male students prefer the traditional oil, gas and petrochemical industries while female students favour the bioprocessing and food and drink engineering industries.
