Decrease of Highly Educated Technology Workforce
Description:
This page is being edited by Piotr Ptasinski, EMBA09
As it currently stands, the number of technological students in the Netherlands has been declining for many years in a row. In addition it appears, that after graduation, a large part of the technological professionals prefer to work abroad, or in general business roles rather than scientific or engineering roles within the country. Consequently, the number of technological affluent employees is expected to continue to decline going forward.
Enablers:
Technology/science is not being stimulated at primary and secondary school level, while languages and humanitory studies are.
Poor labour market for technology / inattractive job opportunities.
Lack of opportunities to make a technology career in companies (while business studies are favoured).
Poor pay for technology related jobs.
Competition by students from abroad (developing countries), who will return to their home country after graduating.
Limited amount of opportunities for a scientific career at universities.
Rigid or outdated university programs at universities leading to decline on quality.
Inhibitors:
Attractivess and attention for science and technology at young age (e.g. in media).
Better pay in technology related jobs.
More career opprtunities in technology (technology career vs managerial career).
More opportunities for a science career at universities.
Restriciton for foreign students.
Flexible education programs, linked to the needs of business and society.
Paradigms:
Declining numbers of technological savy employees will hamper the ability of The netherlands to be innovative and to improve productivity in an international context. This in turn will result in a declining competitive position of The Netherlands, specifically when ongoing globalisation will continue to result in fiercer competition from low-cost countries. Furthermore, a declining availability of a technologically savy workforce may result in the fact that existing companies with strong R&D focus will consider moving their R&D activities outside The Netherlands to other countries with sufficient technological resources. This would further deteriorate the Dutch ability to be Innovative and Productive.
Experts:
Universities
Ministry for Education
Ministry for Economic Affairs
Dutch Innovatieplatform
'Wetenschaps en Technologie indicatoren 2003' Economische Zaken
Innovation Scoreboard 2001
Timing:
The existing downward trend is ongoing since early 1990's. Since the Lisboa Agenda in 2000 little progress has been made. No clear estimates appear available as to the anticipated number of technological savy students and employees; nor have detailed estimates been made as to the technies need by what date.