When construction comes to a standstill, the country comes to a standstill
The shortage of engineers is becoming an underestimated system crisis. As buildings age, there is a shortage of the skilled labour needed to secure and renew them. In BauTechTalk, Prof Dr Adrian Wildenauer calls for a radical rethink in training, planning and perception.
Bridges, tunnels and buildings are the backbone of our prosperity. But what happens when there is no one left to maintain them? The civil engineering profession is losing popularity and with it the knowledge that keeps our built environment alive is dwindling. The number of students has halved in the middle of a country that cannot survive without a functioning infrastructure.
Image problem with consequences
Engineering is not suffering from a lack of relevance, but from a lack of perception. Between dusty clichés and publicly failed major projects, young talents prefer to lose themselves in IT and business administration. Yet the profession is crucial for the future and more exciting than ever.
Digital thinking instead of analogue routine
Adrian Wildenauer shows how things can be done differently. As a professor at Bern University of Applied Sciences, he doesn’t ask his students to “press buttons”, but to have a deep understanding of systems. Digital planning is not taught as a tool, but as an attitude to rethink processes and transform the industry.
Structures instead of individual items: Time for industrial standards
The Swiss construction industry is still planning project after project as a prototype. According to Wildenauer, this is inefficient, expensive and not very sustainable. This will change with the upcoming digital product passport. Anyone who wants to deliver in future will have to provide proof of data and quality. The pressure for standardisation is increasing.
Diversity instead of dogma
Women in particular would excel in training, but often disappear before starting their careers. An industry that only clings to traditional role models is squandering enormous potential. Interdisciplinary, diverse teams are needed, because the construction of the future requires new perspectives.
Building means shaping the future
Wildenauer’s appeal is clear: engineering is not a profession like any other. It is both foundation and progress. Those who build create value for generations. But without young people who see this profession as an opportunity, there is a risk of a silent standstill.
Act now before it’s too late
Engineering professions need to be retold, taught in a modern way and socially upgraded. This is the only way for Switzerland to remain structurally and economically viable. It is about much more than buildings. It is about our common foundation.