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BME Participation in Northwest SET

BME Participation in Northwest SET. Dr Kate Booth Dr Haifa Takruri-Rizk Dr Kamel Mansi Dr Lalith Welamedage. Outline of Presentation. The project Background Context Objectives Theoretical rationale Research Design and Methodology Preliminary findings of the Undergraduate survey

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BME Participation in Northwest SET

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  1. BME Participation inNorthwest SET Dr Kate Booth Dr Haifa Takruri-Rizk Dr Kamel Mansi Dr Lalith Welamedage

  2. Outline of Presentation • The project • Background Context • Objectives • Theoretical rationale • Research Design and Methodology • Preliminary findings of the Undergraduate survey • Concluding Remarks GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  3. Background:National Context • UK economy will face a labour shortfall of about 714,000 in 2010[1] • In 2002[2] • High-SET intensive sectors of the economy produced 27.3% of the total added value • The engineering and physical sciences related sectors accounted for • 30% of GDP, 40% of all investment and 75% of all industrial R&D • more than 70% of value added, employment and investment in plant and machinery in the manufacturing sector • more than 85% of total exports GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  4. Background:National Context • Minority ethnic groups will account for half the growth in the working age population between 1999 and 2009[3] • A survey of registered engineers in 2005 showed that only 3% were from ethnic minorities[4] GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  5. Background:Northwest Context • Number of young people in the region predicted to drop by 12% (cf national average of 7%)[5] • 5.5% of Northwest population is non-white(cf 8% nationally)[6] • Distribution of BME groups across region is highly differentiated[7] • Increase in BME communities will be mainly from the Asian sub-continent[8] • BME unemployment is higher than the national average[6] • Disparity exists between BME and white employment rates for highly qualified people[8] GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  6. Background:Northwest Context • Science and engineering occupations are identified as regional ‘Problem Priority Occupations’ in the Regional Development Plan[9] • Science, engineering and technology identified as priority sectors for ‘improving productivity and growing the market’ in the Regional Economic Strategy[5] • Implementation of the Northwest Science Strategy • Delivering the skills required by priority sectors • Economic strategy will have to embrace a ‘more culturally diverse population’[8] GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  7. Objectivesof the Project To explore the motivating factors encouraging undergraduates and graduates to engage in SET and the barriers to progression, attainment and employment faced by BME students and graduates in the North West. GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  8. Theoretical Rationale • Three main dimensions • Employers’ requirements and Employability Skills • Interaction between Universities and Employers • Academically qualified people or technically skilled people • Career Choice • Influencing factors on career choice (social capital, role models, etc) • Discrimination and Diversity Management • Queuing Theory • Competition theory • Diversity Management GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  9. Research Design and Methodology Census, Survey Research and Semi-Structured Interviews

  10. Census • Census of SET employers • 1300 questionnaires sent to SET employers in the Northwest to date • Further 1400 to be sent out • Census of SET undergraduate students • 1200 questionnaires distributed to undergraduate students on SET degrees at the University of Salford GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  11. Graduate Survey • Graduates Stratified • Ethnicity stratum • Gender stratum, and • Degree programme stratum • Sample Selection • Complex Sampling using SPSS • 500 questionnaires sent out GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  12. Instrumentation • Employer Questionnaire • Background information (nature & size of business, ethnicity of employees, etc) • Equality and Diversity management • SET policies and initiatives • Undergraduate Questionnaire • Degree choice • Future career goals and aspirations • Equality and Diversity GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  13. Instrumentation • Graduate Questionnaire • Degree choice • Employability • Occupational status • Career progression • Equality and Diversity GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  14. Results to date • Based on an initial analysis of 95 returned undergraduate questionnaires • Profile of respondents • Ethnicity 64 White students (67%) 30 BME Students (32%) • Gender 60 Males (63%) 32 Females (34%) • Funding • Parent/s : All - 43 (45%) BME – 14 (47%) • Self-funded (working while studying): All 37 (39%) BME – 10 (33%) • Student loans : All - 62 (65%) BME – 17 (57%) GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  15. Degree Choice • Personal factors • Interested in the field of study: All - 80 (84%) BME - 25 (83%) • External factors i.e. labour market pull factors • Offer better employment opportunities: All - 46 (48%) BME – 14 (47%) • Provides better career opportunities: All - 45 (47%) BME – 16 (53%) • Family influence • Recommended by family: All - 13 (14%) BME - 6 (20%) • Direct family member a degree holder: All – 50 (53%) BME – 8 (27%) • Other family member a degree holder: All – 21 (22%) BME – 9 (30%) GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  16. Career Choice • Want to pursue a career in SET • Yes : All – 66 (70%) BME 24 (80%) • Want to stay in the Northwest after graduation: • Yes: All – 47 (50%) BME – 10 (33%) Some student perceptions of SET prospects in the Northwest: “Good but not fast” “Equally promising,. The North West is developing and construction of new facilities and infrastructure will contribute a great deal in that” “Not many SET companies but many consultancy firms” GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  17. Equality and Diversity • Does Ethnic origin affect one’s career? • Yes : All - 25 (28%) BME – 10 (33%) • No: All – 39 (44%) BME – 6 (19%) • Don’t know : All – 25 (28%) BME – 16 (50%) Some student perceptions of the effect of ethnic origin: “Apparently Asians are more likely to get jobs than White because companies are now forced to have a certain amount of Asians” “Certain ethnic groups get more support” “I believe in a non-discriminatory world” “I feel my name affects my chances as I am a musician, especially since the war on terror” “I think that it is upsetting to think that it can” “I have never come across any discrimination against ethnic origin” “My career is nothing to do with my ethnic origin” GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  18. Concluding Remarks • Undergraduates are personally motivated to participate in SET, but … • … they are less motivated to stay in the Northwest after graduation • We have yet to: • Receive responses from Employers and Graduates • Conduct semi-structured interviews • Undertake detailed analysis of student responses • We look forward to some interesting results! GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

  19. References • Aggarwal, A and Pandey A, Offshoring of IT services – Present and Future, Evalueserve, New Delhi, (2004) • The Importance of Physics in the UK economy, Institute of Physics, March 2003 • Ethnic Minorities and the Labour Market, Final Report, Cabinet Office Strategy Unit, March 2003 • The Engineering Technology Board Survey of Registered Engineers, Full Report, August 2005 • Northwest Regional Economic Strategy 2006, March 2006 • Labour Force Survey 2002/2003 • Speeden S, Coombes D, Mackenzie J, Straker K, Diverse Journeys - Diverse Needs: Improving employment opportunities in BME Communities: Best Practice Research, Report for the SEQUAL Development Partnership, January 2005 • Abrahams D, A Desk-based Health Impact Assessment of the North West Regional Economic Strategy, February 2006 • Northwest Objective 3 Regional Development Plan, February 2005 GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne

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