Decrease of Highly Educated Technology Workforce
Description:
Following discussion as part of the European Lisboa conference (2000), the government of The Netherlands has set itself a target to become one of the most competitive and dynamic knowledge economies of the world. In order to realize this goal, the government wants to increase R&D spending to 3% of GDP vs. current spending of 1.8% only (2004). One of the main drivers of the succesful realisation of this goal comprises the availability of sufficient numbers of highly educated technological professionals for both public and private research institutions.
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 in general business roles rather than scientific or engineering roles. Consequently, the number of technological affluent employees is expected to continue to decline going forward.
Enablers:
Increase in (perceptions of) career opportunities for techies; More flexible education programs: bachelor for technological students with business focus, masters for truly technological students; Increased acceptance of foreigners to technological degrees combined with easy access to visa and working permits after graduation
Inhibitors:
Declining quality and quantity of technological universities; Limited career perspectives for technological students; Rigid university programs, with limited potential to select business or scientific program early on in degree; Restrictive student and work visa conditions;
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:
Onderwijs Cultuur & Wetenschap, 'Wetenschaps en Technologie indicatoren 2003'
Economische Zaken, 2004
EU, 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.