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2. Shortage or Surplus? A Long-Term Perspective on the Supply of Scientists and Engineers in the USA and the UK
- Author
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Smith, Emma
- Abstract
A "crisis account" of shortages of well-qualified scientists, engineers, mathematicians and technologists has shaped education policy in the UK and the USA for decades. The apparent poor quality of school science education along with insufficient numbers of well-qualified teachers have been linked to skills shortages by government and other agencies since at least the time of the Second World War. There is, however, an alternative account that challenges the received view of a skills deficit and questions the evidence for sustained and long-term shortages across the sector. This paper provides an historical account of some of the main events that have characterised debates over the supply and demand of science and engineering professionals in the UK and the USA and the implications that this has had for science education policy. Starting from the end of the Second World War, the paper looks at the key challenges to the evidence that underpins the shortage debate and considers the consequences that more than seven decades of crisis accounts have had on the recruitment and retention of highly skilled scientists and engineers. The paper shows that while the shortage debate has a long history, it is one that is characterised by poor quality data as well as methodological and conceptual challenges. It argues that there is no consensus view about the existence of a skills deficit and that while there may have been short-lived shortfalls in specialist areas, there is little evidence in support of widespread and far reaching shortages as the rhetoric often claims.
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
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3. TEND 2000: Proceedings of the Technological Education and National Development Conference, 'Crossroads of the New Millennium' (2nd, April 8-10, 2000, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates).
- Author
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Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates).
- Abstract
This document contains a total of 57 welcoming speeches, theme addresses, seminar and workshop papers, and poster sessions that were presented at a conference on technological education and national development. The papers explore the ways technology and technological advances have both necessitated and enabled changes in the way education is designed and delivered. The following are among the themes addressed in the individual papers: rival views of technology and their impact on education; the learning needs of older adults using information technologies; entrepreneurship education; lifelong learning on the World Wide Web; issues faced by polytechnics and institutes of technology as they respond to the challenges of Internet technologies and new media; working knowledge; flexible delivery; strategies for teaching technical students to be critical; development of curricula incorporating "hands-on" experience and interaction with industry; a framework for open, flexible, and distributed learning; models of online teaching; the transition from secondary to university education; digital curriculum databases; use of technology to foster authentic communication for second language students; labor and education dilemmas facing the Arab Gulf States; the future of women's colleges; universal education; English for workplace purposes; empathy as a paradoxical key to successful human learning futures; economic education; and funding problems of technical education in developing countries. Many papers include substantial bibliographies. (MN)
- Published
- 2000
4. Defining the Australian Mechanical Engineer
- Author
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Ferguson, Clive
- Abstract
The attribute focus in engineering education now adopted by the engineering education accrediting bodies of the US, UK and Australia is based on meeting the assumed needs of professional practice. It is associated with an increasing expectation by employers of work-ready graduates rather than relying on subsequent work-based learning and experience to develop many of the essential professional practice attributes. Yet the scope of the mechanical engineering profession is broad and views of practitioners contributing to debate on attribute requirements are largely influenced by their own often unique professional formation. In addition, the formative development of the profession in Australia has been significantly influenced by 19th and 20th century UK and US practices, although historically the industrial profile of Australia has been strikingly different. An analysis of current industry distribution of Australian, UK and US mechanical engineers presented in this paper shows continuing, although less marked, differences. To develop a clearer perception of the profession in Australia, its educational formation, and operational environment, this paper provides a concise study of the formative development of the profession, and presents a breakdown of the industry sectors in which they are currently employed. The effects of momentous global changes in engineering employment and formation over recent decades are also discussed. Recent changes in engineering employment have included major structural changes to organisations, accelerating technical and educational developments and mounting societal expectations making it imperative that attributes be attuned to the new engineering paradigm as increasing demands are placed on our graduates. This paper provides an essential foundation for ongoing debate and analysis of attribute needs related to this broadly based engineering discipline. Although presented from an Australian perspective, many issues discussed are applicable worldwide. (Contains 2 tables.)
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. Characterizing Twitter Communication--A Case Study of International Engineering Academic Units
- Author
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Palmer, Stuart
- Abstract
Engineering academic units might engage with social media for a range of purposes including for general communication with students, staff, alumni, other important stakeholders and the wider community at large; for student recruitment and for marketing and promotion more generally. This paper presents an investigation into the use of Twitter by six engineering academic units internationally, using publicly available Twitter data over an 18-month period for analysis and visualization, to characterize the engagement by engineering academic units with one popular social media tool. Widely varying levels of activity were observed, from essentially undirected "Megaphone" Tweeting, through to sustained and complex interactions with multiple external accounts. This work provides insights into how engineering academic units are using Twitter and how they might more effectively use the platform to achieve their individual objectives for institutional social media communications and marketing, and offers a methodology for future research.
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Academic In-Sourcing: International Postdoctoral Employment and New Modes of Academic Production
- Author
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Cantwell, Brendan
- Abstract
International postdoctoral researchers are growing in number and importance in academic research around the world. This is contextualised by a shift to international and enterprise modes of academic production. Through a multiple case study, this paper analyses the role of international postdoctoral employment in life sciences and engineering fields at universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. In doing so particular attention is given to understanding why there are increasing numbers of postdocs from abroad working in these fields and countries, and the ways in which international postdoctorates are incorporated into research laboratories and projects. International postdoctoral employment appears driven by the same factors in the US and UK but is related to different modes of academic production. The findings of this study have implications for research on academic labour, and the organisation of academic production. (Contains 1 table.)
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Implanting a Discipline: The Academic Trajectory of Nuclear Engineering in the USA and UK
- Author
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Johnston, Sean F.
- Abstract
The nuclear engineer emerged as a new form of recognised technical professional between 1940 and the early 1960s as nuclear fission, the chain reaction and their applications were explored. The institutionalization of nuclear engineering--channelled into new national laboratories and corporate design offices during the decade after the war, and hurried into academic venues thereafter--proved unusually dependent on government definition and support. This paper contrasts the distinct histories of the new discipline in the USA and UK (and, more briefly, Canada). In the segregated and influential environments of institutional laboratories and factories, historical actors such as physicist Walter Zinn in the USA and industrial chemist Christopher Hinton in the UK proved influential in shaping the roles and perceptions of nuclear specialists. More broadly, I argue that the State-managed implantation of the new subject within further and higher education curricula was shaped strongly by distinct political and economic contexts in which secrecy, postwar prestige and differing industrial cultures were decisive factors.
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. Creating a Ten-Year Science and Innovation Framework for the UK: A Perspective Based on US Experience
- Author
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Crawley, Edward F. and Greenwald, Suzanne B.
- Abstract
The sustainability of a competitive, national economy depends largely on the ability of companies to deliver innovative knowledge-intensive goods and services to the market. These are the ultimate outputs of a scientific knowledge system. Ideas flow from the critical, identifiable phases of (a) the discovery, (b) the development, (c) the deployment and (d) the delivery of end products. In order to develop a successful ten-year strategic framework for investment in science and innovation, the UK government will need to prioritize and secure contributions to economic development and public service. One particular goal of the framework would be to identify the desirable attributes of a knowledge system that could achieve these ambitions. The Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI) interviewed US stakeholders in science and innovation to gather insights on the UK's potential for long-term, scientific innovation, and the critical processes that fuel it. This paper reviews high-level observations, proposes a model for a scientific knowledge system and outlines its critical attributes. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)
- Published
- 2006
9. A Critical Appraisal of Recent Advances and Future Directions in Value Management
- Author
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Fong, Patrick Sik-Wah
- Abstract
At present, value management (VM) is struggling to survive amidst other management fads. The problem is that it is still not recognized as a professional or academic discipline. There is no sound academic base and a lack of understanding by the public, owners and corporate organizations. The future survival of VM is therefore always being questioned. This study adopts a quantitative approach, trying to gaze through a "crystal ball" to look at current practices and forecast the future courses and directions of VM by considering different aspects such as education, research, practice, VM societies and promotional activities. Various influences on VM development are also examined. The survey sample was taken from the membership directories of SAVE International, USA, and the Institute of Value Management, UK. Forty per cent of the members were selected for the study on a random basis, and the response rate was 23%. From the survey findings, each of the different aspects will be examined in detail. In addition, the paper introduces a building engineering and management programme on offer in Hong Kong, which integrates the VM topic into the syllabus of a course in engineering economics. (Contains 17 tables.)
- Published
- 2004
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
10. The Research System in the 1980's. Public Policy Issues.
- Author
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Franklin Inst., Philadelphia, PA. and Logsdon, John M.
- Abstract
U.S. research institutions are undergoing significant changes from patterns established in the decade following World War II. Declining undergraduate enrollments are predicted to lead to "steady-state" universities; federal policy is emphasizing industry-university research cooperation and calling for a decreased federal role in the direct support of research, with increased tension in relations between government and the scientific community noted by many. These and other areas are addressed in the papers presented in this informal overview of the major controversies related to the U.S. research system during the current transitional period. Papers include: "Introduction: The U.S. Research System under Stress" (John M. Logsdon); "Public Attitudes and the Control of Research" (Dorothy Nelkin); "Basic Research on Campus: A University View" (Steven Muller); "Science, Government, and Policy: A Four-Decade Perspective" (Emmanuel R. Piore); "Accountability in Federally-Supported University Research" (Linda S. Wilson); "A Bridge Reconnecting Universities and Industry through Basic Research" (Richard E. Lyon, Jr.); "The Scarcity of Ethical Resources: Strategic Planning for Science" (Mark Pastin); "New Academic Positions: The Outlook in Europe and North America" (Charles V. Kidd); "Engineering: The Neglected Ingredient" (F. Karl Willenbrock); and "Quantitative Methods in Research and Development Decision-Making" (Carolyn Heising-Goodman). (JN)
- Published
- 1982
11. Is the USA set to dominate accreditation of engineering education and professional qualifications?
- Author
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Richards, David and Anwar, Arif
- Subjects
ENGINEERING ,ACCREDITATION ,GLOBALIZATION ,CIVIL engineering - Abstract
This paper examines mutual recognition of professional engineering qualifications and the globalisation of accreditation of engineering education by US organisation ABET. Scrutiny of the Washington Accord on mutual recognition and a recent attempt to gain ABET accreditation for a UK civil engineering degree programme highlights differences between ABET and the UK Engineering Council. The ambiguity of the Washington Accord also means it may be interpreted differently by signatories. It is suggested that ABET accreditation and the US professional engineer (PE) qualification may become the de-facto global standard due to lack of significant competition from the UK or Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
12. Promoting Diverse Youth's Career Development through Informal Science Learning: The Role of Inclusivity and Belonging.
- Author
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Zhao, Mengya, Mathews, Channing J., Mulvey, Kelly Lynn, Hartstone-Rose, Adam, McGuire, Luke, Hoffman, Adam J., Winterbottom, Mark, Joy, Angelina, Law, Fidelia, Balkwill, Frances, Burns, Karen P., Butler, Laurence, Drews, Marc, Fields, Grace, Smith, Hannah, and Rutland, Adam
- Subjects
VOCATIONAL guidance ,ATTITUDE (Psychology) ,CULTURAL pluralism ,GROUP identity ,RACE ,PRE-tests & post-tests ,SEX distribution ,ENGINEERING ,MATHEMATICS ,PSYCHOLOGY of high school students ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,RESEARCH funding ,STUDENT attitudes ,PATH analysis (Statistics) ,ETHNIC groups ,TECHNOLOGY ,SCIENCE ,SOCIAL integration ,LONGITUDINAL method ,ADOLESCENCE - Abstract
Little research has examined the associations between perceived inclusivity within informal science learning sites, youth program belonging and perceptions of program career preparation. This study explored relations between these factors at three timepoints (T1 = start of program, T2 = 3 months and T3 = 12 months after start). Participants were a diverse sample of 209 adolescents participating in STEM youth programs within informal science learning sites situated in the United States and United Kingdom (70% females: M
age = 15.27, SDage = 1.60), with 53.1% British and 64.1% non-White. Path analysis revealed that only perceptions of inclusivity for own social identity group (i.e., gender, ethnicity) at T1 were associated with T2 STEM youth program belonging. There was a significant indirect effect of T1 perceptions of inclusivity for one's own social identity groups on T3 perceptions of program career preparation via T2 program belonging. This study highlights that, over time, perceptions of inclusivity around youth's own social identity groups (i.e., gender and ethnicity/culture) are related to a sense of youth program belonging, which in turn is later associated with perceptions of program career preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
13. Behind the War Headlines.
- Subjects
WAR & society ,ENGINEERING - Abstract
This section offers world news briefs related to the war. Great Britain has started the publication, "Britanskaya Chronica" or "The British Chronicle," in Russia. Engineers from the U.S. and Great Britain have completed a new pipeline in India. The U.S. Office of Economic Warfare (OEW) has revalidated licenses to Argentina.
- Published
- 1943
14. Gleanings from the Whirl.
- Author
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Caraway, BeatriceL.
- Subjects
MERGERS & acquisitions ,LIBRARIES ,UNIVERSITIES & colleges ,ACADEMIC libraries ,ACQUISITION of property ,ART ,AWARDS ,BIOLOGY ,CATALOGING ,COMPUTER input-output equipment ,CONFERENCES & conventions ,CULTURE ,DATABASE industry ,DATABASES ,DIGITAL libraries ,ELECTRONIC data interchange ,ENGINEERING ,HEALTH ,HORTICULTURE ,INTERNET ,SCHOLARLY method ,LIBRARY circulation & loans ,MARKETING ,MEDICAL literature ,METADATA ,PHOTOGRAPHY ,SCIENCE ,SERIAL publications ,TEXTBOOKS ,ELECTRONIC publications ,LIBRARY public services ,ACCESS to information ,INFORMATION overload ,DATA security - Abstract
The article provides information from various aspects of the field of international serials and electronic resource management. Abstracts for several research articles are included on topics such as scholarly electronic books (e-books) and open source data in academic publishing. Additionally, awards and grants presented by the American Library Association (ALA) in 2011 are highlighted along with notes on the reorganization of the United Kingdom Serials Group (UKSG). Brief information regarding the 2012 conference for the UKSG and a list of online resources related to serials librarians are also included.
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
15. STEM Education: Proceed with caution.
- Author
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Williams, P. John
- Subjects
STEM education ,CURRICULUM change ,EMPLOYMENT & education ,EDUCATION & economics - Abstract
The article offers information on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education initiatives in the secondary curriculum. It presents information about proposals that are being delivered with high-level political support, including U.S. President Barack Obama's announcement of a range of STEM initiatives in November 2009 and the appointment of a National STEM Director in Great Britain. It suggests that changing workforce patterns and economic downturn may be leading to an increased focus on STEM education in 2012.
- Published
- 2011
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