human resource in science and engineering the indian case professor sunil mani centre for...
TRANSCRIPT
Human Resource in Science and EngineeringThe Indian Case
Professor Sunil Mani Centre for Development StudiesTrivandrumKerala, India
February 14 2006
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg2
Outline
The Facts The Problem The Hypotheses Some illustrations from the Indian case Towards a research proposal
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg3
The Facts
India's total pool of technical man power is one of the largest in the world;
The growth rate of India's IT software industry has been tremendous in the recent past;
Its is a growing destination for cutting edge R&D outsourcing in certain high tech areas such as bio pharmaceuticals and telecommunications; and
The demand in the West for students from India's top science and technology educational institutions has been very strong.
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg4
Global distribution of workforce with tertiary education, 1998
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg5
The Problem
Nevertheless India has a very low stock of scientists and engineers engaged in R&D
The density of scientists and engineers engaged in R&D too is one of the lowest among the BRICS
Why is this so?
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg6
Density of scientists and engineers in R&D in India (Scientists and engineers in Research and Development per 10, 000 of the labour force)
Year India Singapore Malaysia South Africa 1992 7.74 39.8 2.1 1994 41.9 5.8 1996 8.23 56.3 5.1 1998 7.10 66.5 7 16.3
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg7
Trends in R&D personnel and density of Research Scientists and Engineers, 1980- 1998
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg8
Stock of S&T personnel in India
(in thousands at the beginning of each year)
1985 Percentag share 1998 Percentag share Engineering degree holders 372.6 15 798 13Engineering diploma holders 564.2 23 1256 20Total engineering 936.8 39 2054 33Science graduates 1138.3 47 3479 56Science post graduates 350.3 14 626 10Total science 1488.6 61 4105 67Total 2425.4 100 6159 100
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg9
Hypotheses
The demand for scientists and engineers is very low as most Indian industries does not invest in innovation. This is is indicated by the low R&D intensities. Even the increased patenting is restricted to a few enterprises in the pharmaceutical sector and as such patenting is not widespread. The demand for innovation is low because more Indian industries are highly concentrated;
The demand for research as a career option even among students with science and engineering degrees is very low. This is directly linked to compensation and working conditions of scientists and engineers even in private sector enterprises. The financial compensation is low and upward mobility is limited compared to other functional areas within the company. As a corollary brain drain is the highest among this category.
There are supply side problems as well caused by mismatch between what is supplied by the higher education sector and what is demanded by the industry. This is perhaps due to the quality of tertiary education in science and engineering.
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg10
Gross enrolment in higher education
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg11
Science as a career is not a preferred option for Indian School Children
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg12
Estimated Human Resource in Science and Technology
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg13
Fore ign-born U.S. re s idents with S&E highest degree , by place of birth: 1999
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg14
Foreign-born U.S . residents with S &E doctorates, by place of birth: 1999
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg15
Foreign S&E Doctorate recipients with plans to stay in the US, 1990-2001
Field and place of origin 1990–93 1994–97 1998–2001 1990–93 1994–97 1998–2001 1990–93 1994–97 1998–2001
All S&E fieldsAll non-U.S. citizens 35,830 41,562 36,878 63.4 69.3 76.3 40.9 43.3 54.1
China 7,283 10,564 9,351 93.5 96.6 96.2 58 57.3 67.5India 3,253 4,760 3,601 85.6 90.1 94.0 62.6 61.8 73.2South Africa 136 138 138 45.6 47.7 69.0 34.7 34.5 45.5Brazil 500 646 576 26.3 28.4 35.3 16.7 21.0 25.6
Foreign S&E doctorate recipients Plans to stay Firm plans to stay
Number Percent
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg16
Attractiveness of other professions and especially IT
Sunil Mani, BRICS, Aalborg17
Towards a BRICS project
All the BRICS appears to have the same problem of low density of scientists and engineers, although it may vary in degree across the five countries;
One could use a mix of primary and secondary source material; Primary source material is required for understanding the
demand side of the issue especially the working conditions for scientists and engineers. Occupational wage surveys, if available, are useful in this direction;
Secondary source material is the one that is relevant for understanding the supply side of the issue.