“Improved infrastructure changes people’s lives”

What is the Future Cities India 2020 program?

Future Cities India 2020 was inspired by the U.S.-based National Engineers Week Future City Competition. That program, which is in its 16th year, reaches more than 30,000 students annually. Bentley sponsors the Future City Competition National Finals and also chairs its Leadership Council. In October 2005, our CEO, Greg Bentley, met with Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal to discuss replicating such a program in India. Mr. Sibal was very excited about the possibilities and gave us the vision and support to move forward. As a result, we have been able to complete two successful Future Cities India 2020 competitions.

How relevant is the program for India?

The infrastructure demands on cities in India are staggering, and few world examples exist to show us how to meet them. India’s urban population is expected to increase from 25 percent of the country’s population today to 40 percent in the next 10 to 15 years. How that increase will affect the infrastructure should be on the minds of everyone in India each and every day – as well as on the minds of people around the globe, given the global nature of today’s economies. Morning and afternoon commutes, the water supply, electricity, air quality — these are all fundamental to quality of life in urban societies and major increases in population will have a significant impact on each of them. Compounding the challenge of the demand for more and better performing infrastructure is the shortfall in the number of new infrastructure engineers, architects and planners who will be needed to design, build and operate this infrastructure in the future. We believe it is essential to encourage the next generation to get involved and understand the career opportunities that the infrastructure professions present. It is important that high school and college students apply their energy, creativity, and imagination to such a critical area – one that will impact their future and affect their quality of life. Having a forum for students to use their creative energy and solve infrastructure design challenges, we believe, is a good idea and very relevant in the context of India.

What has been your experience with this program in India?

We launched the pilot phase of the program in 2006-07 in Delhi as a design competition for high school students. The infrastructure designs were developed in response to real-world problems and were completed using advanced CAD software donated by Bentley to the academic institutions enrolled in the program. In the first pilot phase, 15 teams from eight high schools competed. Teachers and infrastructure professionals mentored the teams on the project, which called for designing a roadway capable of accommodating “Improved infrastructure changes people’s lives” 22 | Coordinates May 2008 the increased traffic expected during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. In the 2007-08 edition of the competition, 14 teams out of 10 high schools representing Delhi and the National Capital Region competed. The challenge was to develop conceptual solutions for the redevelopment of the temporary structures in the Commonwealth Games Authority for the International Athletes’ “Site Development of Proposed Commonwealth Games Village, Delhi After 2010” plan.

How beneficial is this program to the larger context of infrastructure development?

New and renovated infrastructure is a prime catalyst for economic development, which in turn improves the quality of life and raises the standard of living. Unfortunately, a shortage of engineering professionals in all disciplines makes improving infrastructure more challenging, and this is true not just for India, but globally as well. Given that becoming a productive infrastructure practitioner takes many years of training, there is no quick fix for increasing the number of engineers and architects. Future Cities India 2020 is the catalyst we can use to inspire young minds to consider the profession. Of course, not all of the participants in our program enter the engineering ranks, but some will, and they will help India and the world will be better prepared to meet the growing demand for new and improved infrastructure. Another factor is that a large proportion of the engineering work force is approaching retirement, which means we must do something now to fill the ranks. Future Cities India 2020 is only one solution. Bentley is also working with academia to attract young people to infrastructure disciplines. We have expressed to our young participants that one day they can change the world, increase their earning capacity, and gain tremendous respect as infrastructure professionals. We are working with academic institutions to update their educational curricula with the latest infrastructure engineering technology; and provide them with the tools and training that will give graduates jobready skills they can immediately put to good use when they are hired. Bentley is also addressing this shortage by using its BE Careers Network to train young infrastructure engineers. Its mission is to help students graduate with market-ready technology skills.

Can you describe the goal of BE Careers Network and your goal in working with students?

BE Careers Network has a world-wide focus with Bentley personnel promoting a complete program that includes more than 50 software titles, training, competitions, and much more at the high school and university level in over 40 countries. Through our network, we are able to share best practices globally and help students, academic institutions, and the infrastructure professions. For me it is an opportunity to pay back society by helping students develop in the engineering fields that are most in need of new recruits to their disciplines

		Scott Lofgren, global director of Bentley Systems, Inc.’s BE Careers Network, on how Bentley is introducing India’s youth to the engineering profession with the Future Cities India 2020 program