'Dire need' for trained scientists

A major push to train Emirati scientists and engineers is announced as part of a strategy for higher education unveiled by the Abu Dhabi Education Council.

Officials want half of students to enroll in science and engineering courses, but some warn that learning in the arts will suffer.

ABU DHABI // A major push to train Emirati scientists and engineers was announced yesterday as part of a strategy for higher education unveiled by the Abu Dhabi Education Council. It aims to make sure the emirate's universities are producing the right kind of graduates for the future needs of its job market.

Dr Rafic Makki, the executive director of the Office of Planning and Strategic Affairs at Abu Dhabi Education Council, spoke yesterday of a shortage of Emirati engineers. "The labour market, for example, requires 28 per cent of our graduates to be in engineering related areas," he said. "But only about nine per cent of the students enrolled in higher education are in those fields. "Clearly there is a misalignment between the proportion of students enrolled in this field and the labour market needs."

Officials would like to see half of university students studying science and technology by 2018. But according to experts, that may be unrealistic. "A lot of work needs to be done on the sciences in high school before students find it an attractive higher education alternative," said Dr Natasha Ridge, a researcher at the Dubai School of Government. "In addition I would say that yes, science and technology are important, but a well-rounded society also fosters the arts and humanities.

"What is needed is creative and innovative minds in all fields. Students should be encouraged to pursue the fields in which they have a genuine interest and passion. If a passion for learning in general, in all subjects, is encouraged then students will select the fields they are interested in most." In the US, science and engineering have accounted for roughly one third of all bachelor's degrees for the past 15 years. Zayed University currently offers just two science degree courses.

Its chief of staff, Thomas Cochran, said the target of half the total is ambitious. "These subjects are driven by the interests of the students. The key to developing that interest is at K12 level," he said. "That's where they become interested in biology or chemistry and so on. The interest of those coming out of high school now doesn't reflect that 50 per cent." He said the university would not only have to overhaul its curriculum, but would also have to change the student body. The university currently offers a broad range of arts and science degrees including communications, IT and business.

He acknowledged the need to assess whether students starting university will be adequately prepared to meet these targets. Many currently do not reach the levels of maths and science needed to take science degree courses. "When these kids reach university, they realise how hard it is," he added. Dr Mugheer al Khaili, the director general of Abu Dhabi Education Council, conceded that there would be serious hurdles - not least the fact that the public school system is failing to produce graduates with the right skills to study sciences. Figures released last month by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research found that a majority of public school graduates are performing poorly in maths.

The average score on the maths portion of the federal university entrance examination was just 147, well under what would be expected. Anyone scoring below 150 would be expected to take remedial maths before starting university coursework. Dr Naim Anwar, the interim dean of United Arab Emirates University's science faculty, said the average public school graduate was weak in maths and science. "In general I don't think we are satisfied with what we are getting out of high school," he said.

"It differs from one emirate to the other and from one school to the other. We do get some students who are very well prepared in math and science." @Email:[e-mail] [e-mail]