Global Responsibility Competency Compass to address sustainability skills gap

Engineering plays a central role in meeting society's needs, and this self-led educational tool has been developed to help engineers respond effectively to global challenges such as climate change. It is designed to help individuals and their wider teams reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, highlighting gaps in the skills needed to act sustainably, ethically, and equitably.

The Compass is a practical resource that comprises 12 essential competencies to deliver on the four principles of global responsibility – Responsible, Purposeful, Inclusive and Regenerative – articulating the skills, knowledge and mindsets required. It is designed to support self-assessment, provide a template to create a sustainability skills action plan, and with regular use could help put together the evidence needed for professional registration or qualifications.

CEO of the Engineering Council, Paul Bailey said: “We are very pleased to endorse the Global Responsibility Competency Compass, a tool that not only complements the requirements of the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment (UK-SPEC), but also our guidance for the profession on sustainability and ethical principles. We believe the tool will be a very useful resource, both for those applying for professional registration as well as for engineers and technicians at all levels of their career.”

John Kraus, CEO of Engineers Without Borders UK said: "Closing the global responsibility skills gap in our profession is a collective responsibility, and Engineers Without Borders UK, its partners and supporters are committed to upskilling at least 250,000 individuals by 2030. Become a responsible practitioner and start using the Compass today.”

The Global Responsibility Compass was launched on 7 June 2023 at Manufacturing & Engineering Week held at Birmingham’s NEC.

To download the Global Responsibility Compass, visit the Engineers Without Borders website: https://www.ewb-uk.org/global-responsibility-competency-compass/