Technology is rapidly changing the lives of people around the world, creating
a high demand for university graduates with a background in science.
However, the number of students studying relevant subjects is well below the
required level. This problem seems to be caused by outdated
preconceptions, which determine young people’s choices today.
One of those preconceptions is that certain subjects are better suited for
men. Examples of these include mathematics, computer science,
technologies and other fields of knowledge, which are totally dominated by
males. In recent decades, a noticeable progress has been achieved by
many countries in acknowledging that men and women are equally capable
in science. Despite this big step towards equality, female employees may still
feel unwelcome or, in some instances, face evident discrimination in male dominated work environments. As a result, many women with a natural inclination to science settle on studying humanities or social science at
university, depriving society of their main talent.
Another reason for the lack of science students spreads even wider. In the
past, scientists were paid significantly less than professionals in such prestigious
areas, such as business and law. Therefore, ambitious young people tended
to choose highly paid occupations, disregarding their aptitude for science.
Things have changed; today jobs in science are among those with the
highest remuneration, but this trend is yet to be reflected in the university
application numbers. For example, in the UK, over half of all international
students still choose to study for a degree in business. Consequently,
economies around the world are affected by an oversupply of social science
graduates and a deficit of graduates with technical skills. Not surprisingly,
complaints of fresh graduates who cannot find a job are frequent.
To conclude, it seems some young people still perceive studying science as a
route towards a mediocre income from a job where most of one’s colleagues
are men. Thus, too many opt for a degree in social sciences, creating an
imbalanced society where highly-educated university graduates struggle to
find a skilled job.
Technology is
rapidly
changing the
lives
of
people
around the world, creating
a high demand for university
graduates
with a background in science.
However
, the number of students studying relevant subjects is well below the
required level. This problem seems to
be caused
by outdated
preconceptions, which determine young
people’s
choices
today
.
One of those preconceptions is that certain subjects are better suited for
men
. Examples of these include mathematics, computer science,
technologies and other fields of knowledge, which are
totally
dominated by
males. In recent decades,
a noticeable progress
has
been achieved
by
many
countries in acknowledging that
men
and women are
equally
capable
in
science
. Despite this
big
step towards equality, female employees may
still
feel unwelcome or, in
some
instances, face evident discrimination in male dominated work environments.
As a result
,
many
women with a natural inclination to
science
settle on studying humanities or social
science
at
university, depriving society of their main talent.
Another reason for the lack of
science
students spreads even wider. In the
past, scientists
were paid
significantly
less than professionals in such prestigious
areas, such as business and law.
Therefore
, ambitious young
people
tended
to choose
highly
paid occupations, disregarding their aptitude for science.
Things have
changed
;
today
jobs
in
science
are among those with the
highest remuneration,
but
this trend is
yet
to
be reflected
in the university
application
numbers.
For example
, in the UK, over half of all international
students
still
choose to study for a degree in business.
Consequently
,
economies around the world are
affected
by an
oversupply
of social science
graduates and a deficit of
graduates
with technical
skills
. Not
surprisingly
,
complaints of fresh
graduates
who cannot find a
job
are frequent.
To conclude
, it seems
some
young
people
still
perceive studying
science
as a
route towards a mediocre income from a
job
where most of one’s colleagues
are
men
.
Thus
, too
many
opt for a degree in social
sciences
, creating an
imbalanced society where
highly
-educated university
graduates
struggle to
find a skilled
job
.