Search

Showing total 6 results
6 results

1. Skill levels and gains in university STEM education in China, India, Russia and the United States.

Author

Loyalka P, Liu OL, Li G, Kardanova E, Chirikov I, Hu S, Yu N, Ma L, Guo F, Beteille T, Tognatta N, Gu L, Ling G, Federiakin D, Wang H, Khanna S, Bhuradia A, Shi Z, and Li Y

Subjects
Adolescent, China, Female, Humans, India, Male, Mathematics education, Russia, Students, United States, Young Adult, Academic Performance, Engineering education, Science education, Technology education, Thinking, Universities
Abstract

Universities contribute to economic growth and national competitiveness by equipping students with higher-order thinking and academic skills. Despite large investments in university science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, little is known about how the skills of STEM undergraduates compare across countries and by institutional selectivity. Here, we provide direct evidence on these issues by collecting and analysing longitudinal data on tens of thousands of computer science and electrical engineering students in China, India, Russia and the United States. We find stark differences in skill levels and gains among countries and by institutional selectivity. Compared with the United States, students in China, India and Russia do not gain critical thinking skills over four years. Furthermore, while students in India and Russia gain academic skills during the first two years, students in China do not. These gaps in skill levels and gains provide insights into the global competitiveness of STEM university students across nations and institutional types., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Published
2021
Full Text
View/download PDF

2. Perspectives on U.S. Competitiveness in Science and Technology. Conference Proceedings (Washington, DC, November 8, 2006)

Author

RAND National Defense Research Institute, Galama, Titus, and Hosek, James

Abstract

Concern has grown that the United States is losing its competitive edge in science and technology (S&T). The factors driving this concern include globalization, the rise of science centers in developing countries such as China and India, the increasing number of foreign-born Ph.D. students in the United States, and claims of a shortage of S&T workers in the United States. A loss of prowess in S&T could hurt U.S. economic competitiveness, standard of living, and national security. The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness asked the RAND Corporation to convene a meeting in November 2006 to discuss these issues. This volume contains the short papers presented at the meeting and discussed by the analysts, policymakers, military officers, professors, and business leaders who attended. The papers cover a broad range of topics, including science policy, the quantitative assessment of S&T capability, globalization, the rise of Asia (in particular, China and India), innovation, trade, technology diffusion, the increase in foreign-born Ph.D. recipients working in the United States, new directions in the management and compensation of federal S&T workers, and national security and the defense industry. Taken as a set, the papers provide at least a partial survey of the facts, challenges, and questions posed by the possible erosion of U.S. S&T capabilities. The papers comprising this volume are: (1) Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future--Executive Summary (The National Academies); (2) The Global Diffusion of S&T and the Rise of China (Adam Segal); (3) Scientific Wealth and the Scientific Investments of Nations (Jonathan Adams); (4) The World Is What? (David Warsh); (5) National Security in a Knowledge-Based Global Economy (Jonathan Eaton and Samuel Kortum); (6) Recent Trends in U.S. Science and Engineering: Prospects, Challenges, and Implications (James D. Adams); (7) Globalization of the Scientific/Engineering Workforce and National Security (Richard B. Freeman); (8) The Gathering Storm and Its Implications for National Security (Michael S. Teitelbaum); (9) Comments on the "Gathering Storm" and Its Implications for National Security (Paula E. Stephan); (10) Comments at a Meeting on the "Gathering Storm" and Its Implications for National Security (Thomas L. Magnanti); (11) Some Thoughts on the "Gathering Storm," National Security, and the Global Market for Scientific Talent (Paul Oyer); (12) Summative Evaluation of Personnel Management and Compensation Initiatives (Brigitte W. Schay); and (13) The Economic Complexities of Incentive Reforms and Engineers in the Federal Government (Beth J. Asch). Appended is the conference agenda, a list of attendees, and biographical information. (Each paper contains references, tables, and figures.) [This research was sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness and conducted within the Forces and Resources Policy Center of the RAND National Defense Research Institute.]

Published
2007

3. Offshore Outsourcing and the Dawn of the Post-Colonial Era of Western Engineering Education

Author

Oberst, Bethany S. and Jones, Russel C.

Abstract

This paper summarizes the phenomenon of offshore outsourcing and relates it to the history and current state of engineering education and the engineering profession in Europe and the USA. In order to assess the climate affecting employment decisions by and about engineers we have used as sources mostly the serious press, with an emphasis on material dating from 2004 forward. The authors conclude that despite anxiety about the out-migration of engineering and technical jobs to places such as India and China, there is reason to see offshoring as the result of Western investment in capacity building in developing countries and to believe that the creation of new jobs will outpace the rate of job loss in Europe and the USA. The paper should serve as a prod to policy-makers and educators to set about creating an environment in which highly educated engineers and technical employees can continue a pattern of economic revitalization.

Published
2006
Full Text
View/download PDF

4. Offshore outsourcing and the dawn of the post-colonial era of Western engineering education.

Author

Oberst, BethanyS. and Jones, RusselC.

Subjects
CONTRACTING out, OFFSHORE outsourcing, ENGINEERING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, INDUSTRIAL capacity, OCCUPATIONS
Abstract

This paper summarizes the phenomenon of offshore outsourcing and relates it to the history and current state of engineering education and the engineering profession in Europe and the USA. In order to assess the climate affecting employment decisions by and about engineers we have used as sources mostly the serious press, with an emphasis on material dating from 2004 forward. The authors conclude that despite anxiety about the out-migration of engineering and technical jobs to places such as India and China, there is reason to see offshoring as the result of Western investment in capacity building in developing countries and to believe that the creation of new jobs will outpace the rate of job loss in Europe and the USA. The paper should serve as a prod to policy-makers and educators to set about creating an environment in which highly educated engineers and technical employees can continue a pattern of economic revitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2006
Full Text
View/download PDF

5. Preparing Students for Global Research Experiences: US--India Summer Projects.

Author

SANKAR, CHETAN S., RAJU, P. K., and CLAYTON, HOWARD

Subjects
INTERNSHIP programs, ENGINEERING, ENGINEERING students, ENGINEERING education, CASE studies, INTERDISCIPLINARY education
Abstract

The National Academy of Engineering report. Educating the Engineer of 2020, calls for systemwide efforts to align our nation's engineering curriculum and engineering profession with the needs of today's global, knowledge-driven economy for the purpose of increasing student interest in engineering careers. We developed an innovative global internship program for which students researched real-world problems in another country and then documented their research experiences by means of multi-media case studies. This paper describes the methodology, collaboration among US and Indian universities in order to conduct the internship programme, the project timeline and execution, an overview of the projects and an evaluation of the value of the experience to the participants. The evaluation shows that the students perceived that they are more informed about global issues, are better prepared to deal with the future, obtained real-world experiences, and improved their higher-order cognitive skills due to their participation in this project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2009

6. Engineering Gap? Fact and Fiction.

Author

Wadhwa, Vivek

Subjects
ENGINEERS, ENGINEERING, ECONOMIC competition
Abstract

This article provides the real story about the threat to competitiveness posed by China and India against the U.S. in the area of producing engineers. A common argument is that the U.S. graduate just 70,000 engineers a year versus 350,000 in India and 600,000 in China, therefore the U.S. is in trouble. We reported that the U.S. is actually graduating more engineers than India, and the China numbers are not quite what they seem. In short, we showed that the U.S. is in much better shape than most people think.

Published
2006