Royal Academy of Engineering

The Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy was recognised for its high level of influence in policy, research and education in 1992, being granted a royal title for its efforts. The overarching goal of the RAEng in the run up to 2025 is ‘to harness the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone.’

Global responsibility in engineering

The Royal Academy of Engineering have committed to building a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone.

To contribute to a sustainable society, the academy has committed to working with its partners to raise awareness of the key role of engineers in enabling sustainable development. They aim to enhance the capacity of engineers to engage effectively with policymakers and media on the UK’s commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (‘Net Zero’)  and other sustainability challenges.

The academy is committed to contributing to an inclusive economy by working with partners to boost the numbers and diversity of those entering engineering careers. They will continue to diversify the Academy’s Fellowship and awardees and embed diversity and inclusion across all our activities

Purpose of partnership

In 2021 we worked together to:

• Help shape a vision for engineering ethics, and run a series of workshops with key stakeholders. This vision was released in February 2022
• Produce a landscape map of actors that influence ethical understanding in engineering. This map is now used by a RAEng group coordinating efforts to improve ethical practice.

In 2022 we work together to: 

• Develop a visual tool to support universities to reimagine sustainability within degree courses. This tool sets out a vision alongside the practical steps required to teach sustainability and global responsibility effectively.
• Run a series of workshops with early career engineers, CEOs of professional engineering institutions, early adopters of change at universities and educators.
• Advocate more broadly for the need for investment in education and skills.

“By working with Engineers Without Borders UK, we combine our expertise and independence as the UK national academy for engineering, with their experience in advocating for global responsibility. Through the partnership, we’re beginning to support universities to ensure that graduates enter the workplace with the skills they need to address the urgent challenges of our time.

We are developing a visual tool to support universities to reimagine sustainability within engineering degree courses. This tool sets a clear vision alongside the practical steps required to make the meaningful, long-lasting transformation of university education.”

Juliet Upton, Head of Education and Skills policy