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The surveying industry faces several challenges when it comes to recruitment. Some of the key issues include:
- Skills Shortage: There is a shortage of skilled surveyors, particularly those with expertise in emerging technologies such as GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial data analysis. The rapidly changing nature of the industry requires professionals to continuously update their skills, leading to a gap between demand and the available skilled workforce. See vacancies on RICS.
- Ageing Workforce: Many surveyors are approaching retirement age, and there has been a struggle to attract younger talent to replace them. The ageing demographic in the industry poses a risk of losing valuable experience and knowledge, and there is a need for a younger generation to enter the field (RICS reported in 2019 that the average age of a surveyor in the UK was as high as 55!).
- Perception and Awareness: The surveying profession often suffers from a lack of public awareness and a misconception that it is all construction related. This perception can deter individuals, especially younger generations, from considering surveying as a modern and technologically advanced career
- Educational Challenges: Limited educational programs and courses in surveying, especially those that incorporate the latest technologies, can hinder the development of a skilled workforce. Educational institutions may need to adapt their curricula to align with industry needs and promote surveying as an attractive career path. In the UK there’s been a recent addition of t-levels which provide hands on work experience whilst having a percentage of time learning in college.
- Limited Diversity: The surveying industry has historically been male-dominated, and there is a need for more efforts to promote diversity and inclusion. Encouraging a more diverse workforce can bring in different perspectives and ideas, contributing to innovation and growth in the industry. “Based on data from February 2022, women represented only 18% of RICS’ then 139,000 international professionals across 23 pathways” see report here.
To address these challenges, stakeholders in the surveying industry like us at ‘Get Kids into Survey’, are collaborating to promote the profession. This movement aims to improve educational opportunities (courses on offer/routes into the career), and create initiatives to attract a diverse and skilled workforce.
Surveying is super important because it helps us build new infrastructure, use new and improved technology, environmental stewardship, and address global challenges. These factors show people how awesome surveying is and ensures the sustainability and growth of the profession!
Here are 25 tips on how to promote surveying to kids and secure the industry’s future:
- Interactive Workshops: Conduct hands-on workshops where kids can engage in simple surveying activities. Find some examples in the ‘Pick ‘N’ Mix Outreach Sessions’ in the Brand Ambassador Hub.
- Surveying Kits: Create DIY surveying kits for kids, including basic tools and instructions for fun experiments. Perfect if you have your own surveying equipment to hand (drones maybe?).
- Cartoon Characters: Surveying cartoon characters showcase the adventures of surveyors, making it relatable and entertaining for kids. These can be found in the GKiS posters each with different themes!
- STEM Camps: Organise STEM camps with a focus on surveying, integrating science, technology, engineering, and maths in a practical way. This could be done in collaboration with other companies in your local area for a fun STEM careers day.
- Geocaching: Have a go at geocaching to introduce kids to the concept of using GPS for treasure hunting. Available as an app on your phone.
- Games: Carlson Software have created a Hydrology game that teaches about surveying concepts and tools. You can even compete with your peers to see who can come up with the most efficient solution
- Psst- keep an eye on GKiS’s page for Minecraft updates… more to be revealed soon.
- Junior Scouts Visits: Go to local clubs or groups where kids can participate in surveying-related activities, there’s even a surveying badge depending on your location.
- Nature Exploration: Connect surveying with nature walks, teaching kids how to measure and map elements in their environment.
- Career Day Demos: Set up an engaging stand during a school career day to spark curiosity about surveying careers. Without representation at events how do we expect kids to know about a surveying career?
- Comic Book: The GeoSquad Comic Book tells a story about a world without surveyors. The GeoSquad have to work with The Last Surveyor to try and save the city! Demonstrating key surveying phrases and technology throughout.
- Robotics Integration: Integrate surveying concepts into robotics programs, showcasing the intersection of technology and surveying. Those interested in technology would potentially enjoy this career so it would be great to market it towards these students.
- Augmented Reality (AR): Use AR technology to create immersive experiences, allowing kids to visualise surveying in a virtual environment.
- Speed Dating Careers Event: Organise in your local area a speed dating careers night where different professionals line up and get quizzed by students about what they do in their job.
- Themed Events: Host themed events like “Surveyor Day” at schools, featuring interactive activities and presentations. Combine local surveyors or take a few from your own company as an ‘outreach charity style day’.
- Educational Videos: Record online videos tailored for kids, introducing them to surveying principles and applications. In this day and age kids are watching videos all the time particularly on the channels TikTok and YouTube.
- Student Ambassadors: Teachers should empower older students or young surveying professionals to act as ambassadors, sharing their passion for the field with younger students.
- Vlogging: A day in the life vlog would demonstrate some real-world applications of what it’s like being a surveyor.
- Environmental Projects: Connect surveying with environmental projects, emphasising its role in sustainable development. An example of this is working through one of the Homework Projects that focusses on the GKiS Environmental Disaster poster and themes.
- Career Pathway Diagrams: Create visual diagrams showing the diverse career pathways within the surveying industry. This is different depending on the state/ country that you are in so there will be no ‘one size fits all’. Diamondback Land Surveying has produced a great one for their state of Nevada.
- Topographical Sandbox Demo: Create your own sandbox or get one here. This piece of equipment is great for teaching about what topographical surveys represent.
- Local Landmark Tours: Organise tours to local landmarks, explaining how surveying contributes to their planning and development. This can be part of a wider picture of including surveying into other life lessons.
- Leverage Social Media: Use social media platforms to share engaging content, challenges, and success stories related to surveying for a younger audience. Between your connections you could inspire others to do some outreach to their family/friends too, having a big effect.
- Colouring in Activities: Have a go at the GKiS colouring sheets, introducing kids to key surveying concepts in a basic and fun way.
- Virtual Reality (VR) Tours: Develop virtual reality tours of surveying projects, allowing kids to explore construction sites and landscapes through their fancy goggles.
- Fun Fact Campaigns: Share interesting and fun facts about surveying regularly to capture kids’ attention and curiosity.
Hopefully this blog has provided some interesting ideas on how you can help promote surveying to the next generation!
Anything to add? Pop us an email to hello@getkidsintosurvey.com and we will add it to the list 🙂