Monitoring Well‐Being of Civil Engineering Profession

Abstract

Deficiencies in seven key professional aspects are identified as being potentially responsible for the frequently reported decline in the well‐being of the civil engineering profession. These deficiencies are: (1) Public profile; (2) quality of entering class; (3) quality of graduating class; (4) supply/demand of good engineers; (5) professional fees; (6) professional income; and (7) innovation and R&D. These deficiences are demonstrated to be closely intertwined, and a professional well‐being chart modeling this closed‐loop interrelationship is proposed. Using this chart, a method is proposed to periodically monitor the well‐being of the civil engineering profession, as well as the evolution of this well‐being. Quantitative performance indices are formulated to achieve this objective. It is contended that the proposed monitoring activities are crucial to identify where corrective policies must concentrate if they are to enhance the well‐being of the profession. It is also anticipated that strategies to reach that enhancement and a proposed comprehensive action plan for immediate implementation can be formulated thereafter.