Engineering
Engineer is one of the oldest professions in the world, and engineers have played an important role in shaping the world as we know it. Their understanding of structures helped build many of the World Heritage sites including the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur and the hydrological systems of the Angkor Complex in Cambodia. They have also built our communication networks from the early electrical telegraphs to cyberspace. Most of the broader history of civilization, of economic and social relations, is also the history of engineering, engineering applications and innovation.
Engineers’ skills are essential to address basic human needs, alleviate poverty, promote secure and sustainable development, respond to emergency situations, reconstruct infrastructure, bridge the knowledge divide and promote intercultural cooperation. Despite the social and economic importance of engineers, there is increasing concern that declining enrolment in engineering studies might have a negative impact on future development. UNESCO is addressing this concern through its partnerships with professional engineering societies, educational institutions, industries, and civil society organizations.