acatech GERMAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Promoting the Interest in Science and Engineering Reiner Kopp and Katja Thierjung

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1 acatech GERMAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Promoting the Interest in Science and Engineering Reiner Kopp and Katja Thierjung CAETS Council Meeting Copenhagen, 30 June 2010

2 > Current situation in Europe > Players in Europe > Euro-CASE activities > National strategies 2 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

3 Current situation > Engineers form an occupational group that is vital for the society Knowledge in STEM subjects are vital in order to cope with many global challenges economic growth, climate change, energy supply, raw material Engineering as central link between new scientific discoveries and their application and as technical innovators > Dearth of professionals skilled in STEM occupations in several countries in Europe Europe is facing an enormous demographic challenge, with the total population of 18 year olds within the European Union expected to decrease by 14% from 2008 to acatech CAETS Council Meeting

4 Current situation Figure 1 Projected change in 18-year-old population from source: ERT, MST Education Report (2009) In future it will not be possible to replace people leaving the labor market with an adequate number of young scientists and engineers Far-reaching consequences for the innovative capacity of science and industry in Europe 4 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

5 > Current situation in Europe > Players in Europe > Euro-CASE activities > National strategies 5 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

6 Players in Europe Overview > European Union: EU Strategy Europe 2020 > European Research Area Board: Preparing Europe for a New Renaissance > European Round Table of Industrialists: Mathematics, Science & Technology Education Report 6 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

7 EU Strategy Europe 2020 > The Europe 2020 strategy was put forward by the Commission in March 2010 > Vision of Europe's social market economy for the 21st century > Target: Smart growth: developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation. Sustainable growth: promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy. Inclusive growth: fostering a high-employment economy delivering social and territorial cohesion. 7 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

8 EU Strategy Europe 2020 "Youth on the move" > EU flagship initiative "Youth on the move" > The Commission s Agenda Integrate and enhance the EU's mobility, university and researchers' programmes (such as Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, Tempus and Marie Curie); Step up the modernisation agenda of higher education (curricula, governance and financing) including by benchmarking university performance and educational outcomes in a global context; Explore ways of promoting entrepreneurship through mobility programmes for young professionals; Promote the recognition of non-formal and informal learning; Launch a Youth employment framework outlining policies aimed at reducing youth unemployment rates 8 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

9 EU Strategy Europe 2020 "Youth on the move" > Headline Target of the Commission: Reduce the share of early school leavers to 10% from the current 15% and increase the share of the population aged having completed tertiary education from 31% to at least 40%. Critique: The strategy does not address the promotion of the interest in science and engineering (STEM-fields)! 9 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

10 ERAB European Research Area Board Preparing Europe for a New Renaissance > A Strategic View of the European Research Area (ERA) > Preparing Actions for an ERA required by 2030 on: Promotion of ideas and people to move freely across a dynamic and open society Driving societal needs to address the Grand Challenges Sharing responsibility between science, policy and society Creating innovation between all public and private stakeholders Delivering excellence where risk-taking in research will be the guiding principle for ERA policy Allowing all European research actors to take part in the knowledgebased society 10 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

11 ERT European Round Table of Industrialists Mathematics, Science & Technology Education Report > ERT is an informal forum > ERT brings together around 45 chief executives and chairmen of major multinational companies of European parentage > ERT has continued to voice concern over the proportionate decline in the number of of Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) graduates > ERT believes that this issue must be tackled at a European Union level to ensure Europe s future prosperity. > ERT has focussed on the role of business to increase interest in MST > Mathematics, Science & Technology Education Report (September 2009) 11 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

12 ERT European Round Table of Industrialists Mathematics, Science & Technology Education Report > The report concentrates on assessing bsuiness s role in the problem brings together the input from stakeholders engaged in this issue within Europe puts forward a proposal for a European Coordinating Body to increase interest among young Europeans in MST education and careers 12 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

13 > Current situation in Europe > Players in Europe > Euro-CASE activities > National strategies 13 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

14 Euro-CASE Activities 2nd Euro-CASE Annual Conference 2009 in Stockholm > Increasing Interest for Higher Education in Mathematics, Science & Technology > The conference focused on encouraging young people to study and pursue careers in MINT fields presented interesting initiatives and actions taken within Euro-CASE member countries > Recommendations to the EC Urgent need to start programs at national levels Setting up an office for the establishment of best practice Conducting research and monitoring the situation and progress in Europe 14 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

15 Euro-CASE Activities Platform for Engineering Education > Various activities in the field of Engineering Education, e.g.: > Activity The Bologna Process beyond 2010" (finished) Two questionnaires on the effects of the Bologna Process (esp. on the mobility of students) Results: The Europe-wide standardisation of national higher educational systems is not necessarily a value in itself. The improved flexibility, mobility and transparency is to be put into question. Concerning the improvement of mobility, the obstacles need to be overcome nationally or even from university to university (bilateral arrangements, exchange programmes etc.) > Activity Inspiring the Future Engineers (ongoing) What are good practice example for attracting the young generation to engineering studies? Questionnaire was sent to all European Academies to find out about best practice examples 15 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

16 > Current situation in Europe > Players in Europe > Euro-CASE activities > National strategies 16 acatech CAETS Council Meeting optional: Bildquellen: Xxx

17 United Kingdom: The Royal Academy of Engineering The Best Programme (ongoing) > Best = Better engineering, science, technology > Supported by government, charitable, industrial partners > Target: Recruit, train and retain the brightest and most motivated young people into and within the engineering profession to fulfil the needs of the economy and society. Create mutually beneficial partnerships between industry and education, where the needs of companies and the aspirations of individuals are satisfied. Provide comprehensive, value-adding education and training opportunities that can be accessed throughout an individual s engineering career. 17 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

18 United Kingdom: The Royal Academy of Engineering The Best Programme (ongoing) The Programme comprises four schemes: > the Engineering Leadership Standard Award scheme open to all British engineering undergraduates for the duration of your degree > the Engineering Leadership Advanced Award scheme open to second year MEng undergraduates on a four year engineering degree (or third year undergraduates on a five year degree) > the Executive Engineers Programme open to top engineering graduates continue to ensure to develop as professional engineers > the Sainsbury Management Fellowships scheme open to engineers of high career potential to undertake full time MBA courses at major international business schools 18 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

19 Switzerland: Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) > Technoscope (since 1997) - Magazine for secondary school pupils with content such as Technology in the everyday life, research, job portraits etc. > TecDays (since 2007) - Technology day for secondary school pupils > SimplyScience (since 2008) - Webplatform for youngsters > The objectives are: To complete learning matter in secondary schools To promote Interest in natural and technical science Key experience due to an intensive dialogue with personalities 19 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

20 Germany: acatech - German Academy of Science and Engineering > declared goal of acatech to inspire the Young Generation for sciences and engineering to increase the number of graduates in all the fields of STEM. > Instruments / Projects Monitoring of motivation concepts for technology students (MoMoTech) Studies barometer for scientists and engineers Platform for promoting young scientists and engineers acatech strategy for promoting the interest in science and engineering 20 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

21 acatech strategy Situation in Germany: Lack of Engineers Lack of Engineers Unemployed Reported (BA) Engineer Jobs (BA) Overall Engineer Jobs Lack of Engineers 21 acatech CAETS Council Meeting * nach Klös 2008:39, IW-vdi Studie source: BA (2008), IW-Zukunftspanel (2008)

22 Projected coverage of the replacement needs of engineers due to the current age structure of working engineers* 4,7 4,3 4,2 3,5 3,1 2,4 2,4 2,3 2,3 2,0 2,0 1,9 1,9 1,8 1,4 0,9 0,8 0,8 0,8 S P IRL I E F MEX AUS CDN B SLO FIN GB A NL D DK H N Engineer replacement rates international younger engineers per older (younger: year olds with a tertiary degree and 30 to 39-year-old with a doctorate; Older: years). 22 acatech CAETS Council Meeting * nach Klös 2008:30 source: OECD (2007), S. 44, Stand: 2004

23 Germany: acatech strategy Promoting the interest in science and engineering > acatech strategy for the interest in science and engineering analyses the major causes for the lack of young scientists and engineers in Germany is directed towards policy makers, industry, schools and universities alike recommends research activities and other measures to secure the necessary pool of professionals for the German scientific and innovation system 23 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

24 acatech strategy Five key areas 1. promotion of skills to children and adolescents 2. vocational training and studies 3. job market: appeal and image of technical and scientific occupations 4. Gender issues in science and engineering 5. technology and society 24 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

25 acatech strategy Main elements of this promotional strategy > Interest and skills in science and technology should be stimulated in all stages of life from childhood to professional careers. > Initiatives and projects should be designed to run over an extended period and should be executed continuously to unfold their full potential. > Promotional initiatives can only be successful if all players participate actively. > Measures for promotion must be accompanied by an evaluation. > Please see publication for the recommendations in detail! 25 acatech CAETS Council Meeting

26 Thank you very much for your Attention! 26 acatech CAETS Council Meeting