I am delighted to be joining the panel at the Institution of Structural Engineers Annual Academics Conference on 12 September 2025 (fully online). This annual gathering is always an inspiring opportunity for educators, practitioners and researchers to exchange ideas and challenge assumptions about how we prepare the engineers of tomorrow.
In my view, structural engineering education must evolve in step with the demands of the profession. While theoretical knowledge remains essential, it must be deeply connected to the realities engineers face on site and in practice. Too often, students learn calculations and codified design rules without fully understanding how structures behave under real world conditions. We should be placing far greater emphasis on hands on experience, the feel of materials, the nuances of construction and the way structures respond over time.
With advances in technology and digital tools, the role of the engineer is shifting. Many traditional design tasks are now automated, but the responsibility for validation, ensuring a structure will perform safely and efficiently, has only grown. To do this well, engineers need not just formulas, but an instinctive understanding of structural behaviour that comes from linking theory with observation and experience.
The Annual Academics Conference is a rare chance to explore these ideas collectively, bringing together perspectives from education, industry and research. By rethinking how we teach and inspire, we can ensure the next generation of engineers are equipped not only to design, but to innovate, validate and adapt in a rapidly changing world.
I look forward to the conversations ahead and to connecting with many of you online.
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Dr Alireza Behnejad is an Associate Professor and the Associate Head of External Engagement at the School of Engineering, University of Surrey, UK. He has been a member of the Education Committee at IStructE since 2023 and has received several prestigious awards, including the Excellence in Structural Engineering Award 2023 from IStructE and the National Teaching Fellowship from Advance HE. Alireza serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Space Structures and is the Founding Editor of Spatial Structures: Movers and Shakers e-magazine.