Why Engineering? Essay Example

Proposal

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by how things work. When I was growing up, I dismantled so many household appliances trying to figure out how they worked. Obtaining a degree in mechanical engineering will help me understand the function and use of many mechanical devices. This training will also give me the knowledge needed to design and create new mechanical devices that someday may improve the lives of people around the world. So, choosing mechanical engineering was an easy choice that I was able to make alone. I believe that engineering is superior to all other majors. Becoming a medical doctor is still the most prestigious job to have in my community, but I believe engineering is the most rewarding. Along with any major there will be hardships. There will be times when designs fail. Nonetheless, I believe this field is more innovative than any other because I have the opportunity to create and design mechanical devices that could possibly be used all around the world. I believe that engineering has a great impact on society because it offers great opportunities for designing devices and services that could save lives. Young people who become engineers are great role models for others in their communities. There has been a dramatic shift in the UAE to becoming a global producer in the areas of innovative technology. There are many benefits to becoming an engineer: variety of career choices, prestige, challenging work, satisfaction, and financial stability are just a few. There are also many advantages of becoming an engineer. For example, the skills acquired on the job can be used in everyday life. People who are engineers can build and fix their own devices when they malfunction.  Finally, I believe that engineering has a great future. I believe engineers will be able to solve some of the great challenges we are destined to face in the future. For example, I believe engineers will be able to make solar energy more economical and provide energy from fusion.

UAE Engineers and Business Majors

In order for the UAE to obtain a position as a world leader in technology, it must take a competitive edge in innovative technology.  According to Rani, 2000, “Technology outside this country has more than doubled and to close the gap between the UAE and other countries, the UAE must generate the largest high-technology output” (Rani, 2000). Because The UAE is looking to reach this goal, there is definitely a need for more qualified engineers. From 1991-2000, the number of students who enrolled in engineering programs declined from 8.5 percent to 5.5 percent (Rani, 2000). The potential engineering majors declining caused great alarm in the UAE, which prompted the formation of the organization that assists graduates in finding jobs. The vast majority of engineering degrees are issued to men in the UAE, but there is an increasing number of women who are choosing the major. About 19 percent of engineering degrees issued in the UAE are to women (Rani, 2000). Currently, there are more than 200 outreach programs that are designed to implement the increase of students majoring in engineering. Most of these programs have a great track record of encouraging students to build a foundation suitable for engineering. These programs aim to entice children to do well in subjects like math and science (Rani, 2000). There is a great need for more engineers in UAE. However, there are several barriers that prevent students from majoring in engineering. One is the fact that engineering is gender identified early. Students are taught that only males do well in math and science. The other fact is that many students lack confidence in their math and science abilities because those subjects have been stereotyped as being difficulty. Despite the many barriers, a growing number of students in the UAE are pursuing engineering degrees.

Engineering professionals are in high demands because the region has placed more focus on construction and infrastructure. As a result, companies are competing to hire the best trained engineers possible. This competition will lead to an increase in engineers’ salary in the region. UAE is known for resorts and lodging. It ranks number 31 among 134 other countries in competitiveness (UAE, 2010-2012). It is also the fifth largest oil producer in the world(UAE, 2010-2012)..  At UAE, engineering and business management are the most popular majors. However, the engineering numbers outweigh the business because engineering majors can be sponsored by UAE organizations and companies that will fund their educational expenses and offer them a job after graduation(UAE, 2010-2012).

In 2012, UAE graduated 1,500 students who were engineering major and 715 who were business majors. It can be inferred that the larger number of engineering graduates is due to the job program they offer. The job market in the UAE is open to graduates with science, technology, and engineering. These graduates will find work in the manufacturing and energy industries. According to statistics, engineering graduates are33 percent more likely to find a job in UAE than business majors. The average UAE graduate is between the ages of 22-24 and grosses about 41,000 tax free dollars a year(UAE, 2010-2012).

Family Structure

In the United Arab Emirates, the man is considered the breadwinner of the family. The man is expected to provide for his family. Male family members are even expected to provide for unmarried sisters or widowed mothers.  Nonetheless, gender roles are changing in the UAE.  For example: “Traditionally, religious, social, and cultural norms in the UAE have dictated the position of women. Under this tradition, girls were socialized into nurturing roles of mother and wife, rather than encouraged to develop careers. While this has changed remarkably, with women now being encouraged to obtain higher education before marriage, there remain other issues that restrict women’s labor market choices”(Al-Awad, Elhiraika, 2002).  Women have started working outside the home. Polygamy is also affecting the family structure. One report found that men living in some villages of Emirates had more than 23 other people to take care of financially(Al-Awad, Elhiraika, 2002)  . Also, 25 percent of male students at UAE reported that their fathers had 2 or more wives(Al-Awad, Elhiraika, 2002).  .  Consequently, many women of polygamy relationships are allowed to work in order to provide for large families. There are several factors that have effect on the male gender gap in the United Arab Emirates. For example:

“Despite their low education levels, unemployment rates for males are still much lower than for females. The question often asked then is, “If men are finding opportunities in the labor force, why educational inequality is problematic?” There are two reasons: first, males matter in terms of enhancing economic competitiveness, and second, there are social gains from educating males that benefit all who live in UAE” (Salama & Hana, 2010  )

Gender Gap

Female students out number male students 6 to 1 in the UAE; however, males outnumber females in the workforce nearly 12 to 1(UAE, 2010-2012). So, many women are attending colleges and receiving degrees, but a large portion of those women are not hired due to social stereotypes. This is also true for females in business management. There are a number of regulations that are intended to limit the number of business opportunities for women ( Al-Awad & Elhiraika, 2002 ). For example, one requirement for a trade license in UAE is a contract of a rental business premises. So, female business graduates who are working from home have limited exposure to possible business prospects. With the number of students graduating in both engineering and business, the number business graduates will suffice for the demand of UAE. However, with the large number of engineering graduates will not suffice for the demand of UAE. Although women are just as capable of completing jobs, many are refused hire due to stereotypes place upon them.

Giving Back

Although statistics show that 85 percent of Arabic born graduates tend to give back to their communities in some way(Al-Awad & Elhiraika, 2002). Astoundingly, women are 22 percent more like to help with non-profit programs( Women for Women, 2012). One such organization is “Women for Women International” This non-profit organization supports women from war torn regions not only in the Arabic regions, but around the world. This program assists with financial and emotional help, skills training, women right’s education, and starting small businesses.  Since 1993, there have been over 407 thousand women to serve or donate to this cause( Women for Women, 2012). More than 60 percent of those women have been of Arabic descent( Women for Women, 2012). The goal of this organization is to help women change from the victim to an active member of their society. They believe that with the help of educated women around the world they can eradicate the maltreatment of women in male dominated societies. They want women to have equal participation in any events that deal with their health, well-being, and economic independence. A woman for Women has been in operation in Iraq since 2003 and has helped more than 6, 500 women( Women for Women, 2012). Of those 6, 500, 92 percent report an improvement in their economic situation, 88 percent report improvement in their physical and mental health, 90 percent say that they are now participating in household decisions, and 87 percent reported that they voted in recent local or national elections( Women for Women, 2012).. In 2012, Women for Women had collected a total of $29, 922, 354 dollars in contributions and donations.( Women for Women, 2012).

Recommendations

Engineering and business management are culturally biased profession s. UAE. Reports show that women score better than their male counterparts, they are also more likely to attend college, yet they are very less likely to be hired in male dominated societies. Nonetheless, I believe that engineering is the best field to go into. All non-profit organizations must have some type of building or dwelling to function out of. Consequently, they will need an engineer to get that facility up and running. The UAE is a very wealthy region; therefore, many new structures will be going up. Tourism is also one of the most beneficial business ventures in the UAE. Consequently, I believe there will be equal work opportunities for both engineers and business managers. Actually, I believe that the two can work successfully together.

References    

Al-Awad, Mouawiya & Adam B. Elhiraika (2002). Skills, gender, nationality, and income inequality in the united arab emirates. Journal of Social Affairs, 19(76).

Mohamed Salama and Hana A R (2010) ‘Green buildings and sustainable construction in the United Arab Emirates.’ Association of Researchers in Construction Management ., 1397-1405

Rani, G. (2000). Measuring change in students’ attitudes toward science over time: An application of latent variable growth modeling. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 9(3), 213-225.

UAE University. (2002-2003). Institutional Research Unit, Statistical Year Book. Women For Women International (2012). Annual Report.