Ci-dessous, l'intervention de Mr. Bruno ROBINE en anglais :

DECREASE OF STUDENTS AND EMPLOYMENTS OFFERS IN ICT.

REALITY OR FICTION ?

During our last Pin-SME General Assembly in December 2007, I wondered if it was possible to make an European survey about the admission and employment difficulties concerning software engineer, male and especially female, as well in our computer schools and in our ICT SME’s .

In fact, GPNI French association to represent ICT SME’S build up in the late sixties a private software engineer university. Last year we duly noted a quite important reduction, nearly ten per cents of the number of registrations in these courses. It seems to be the same problem in France, for all actors involved in teaching in the ICT field.

At the same time huge ICT companies point out that they expect in France a lack of nearly one hundred thousand engineers within 10 years. Software companies have in forecast an increase of activity from 8 to 10 % for the two next years. The problem is important because they are the first ICT engineers employers and in this area, productivity is low and SME’s will be the first victims or war price which will result of this manpower shortage

The questions is : Is this decrease a new and a true problem in the European Union or only in France and if yes what are the reasons and how to solve it ?

At the moment, I can try to risk myself to give some answers but only for France.

For this purpose first let’s have a look at the French statistics, unfortunately they do not cover the recent period:

EMPLOYMENT

In 2002, in France there were 452.000 employees in software that were for 64% engineers and 36% technologists of which 20% were women. Average age was 36 years old and 27% of them were under 30.

The number of employees multiplied by 2 and a half during the period from1980 to 2002.

STUDENTS

The number of students to become engineers was nearly 109 000 in 2006  against 58 000 in 1990 with 67% growth between 1991 and 2001 to a top of nearly 100.000, then increased slowly, at about 10% in the seven past years.

If in 2005 women were 25% of total students in engineer schools instead of 15% in 1985, they only represented 11% in ICT.

If the number of students in the scientific areas multiplied by two during the period 1990 – 2007 (INSEE 2007). the total number of students (health sector excluded) decreased just a  little by 1.3% between 2000 and 2006.

At this first analysis, neither employment nor education can be involved unless if it is the beginning of a tendency in education, considering the average duration of at least 5 years of studies to become engineer.

We have to find out others explanations if we want to answer some questions such as:

What is the image of the ICT area for most people?

The internet market crash and the layoffs in the hardware manufactures let many people confused. Fortunately, e-commerce, web sites and video games give new perceptions.

What is the image for every one about computer engineer?

Generally the answer is there is not only one image but three images which are:

-         The Geek in Jurassic Park

-         Hacker

-         Specialists with a touch of MacGyver

As these images are mostly coming from movies, Medias in order to sell newspapers, it is quite difficult to fight against them. But theses images exist from long time.

What is the image of a computer engineer in a company?

The answer is very often a person unable to manage others.

We entered a period in which the first quality asked to anyone skilled is to be a good manager.

We often see that the ICT manager usually does participate in the management board.

This does not help to give an attractive image.

But it is not new.

Is the image of health field more attractive?

Certainly, but it is a small part (1.3%) of the explanation

Is there a difference of recruitment between students in 3 years bachelor and 5 years master?

We can tell that 80 % of our engineers enter companies just at the end of their studies.

Ten per cent enter after a management school.

But truly, it is more difficult for technicians to find a job.

Is it coming from the companies attitude for new employees?

There is no change in this domain. The well known difficulties to find software engineers lead companies to pay better salaries. That should give greater willing to work in ICT. But the management of the carrier of their engineers is still not a priority to these companies. The effects are a negative image for young people, acceleration of the turn over and departure to other areas or countries.

Is it due to the decreasing percentage of women in ICT?

Women are less than 15% in ICT to compare to 60% in biotechnology studies.

In many areas of the economy, women have mainly contribute to help their development but their presence decreases in ICT.

The reason is not the money because we can notice that the salaries are at the same level between men and women when joining ICT companies even if it changes after.

Isabelle Collet who was ICT engineer herself,  is now PHD and teaches sciences. Also, as  a researcher at Paris Nanterre University, she explains that business areas have an artificial socio-sexual reality coming from family, school, medias, stereotypes. For ICT, it is the image of the asocial geek which must be changed as well as to point out female success stories.

It is to had that women have to face to a well known male universe which does not help.

Is it a demographic problem ?

Certainly it is and it takes the most important part.

If we consider the demographic pyramid we notice that we will have to face a decrease of the age group between 18 and 25 for the next five more years.

FRENCH POPULATION – January the 1st 2007

To conclude, many factors are involved in the decrease of interest for young French people to integrate ICT field. We will certainly very soon look for competences in other countries. The best for us is to get in connection with other ICT companies introduced by the PIN SME members. The interest for all stakeholders is to build the best ways to allow these bridges in order to provide better quality, reactivity to meet demands and to face competition.

We have to change the image of engineer and promote their function in companies.

We have to find out solutions to involve more women in ICT schools

We also encourage every PIN SME member to request from the European Union, statistics focused on ICT because the level that we usually get in our countries is not sufficient regarding the number of employees to the share of ICT in the European Union Growth Profit.

We all must react as soon as possible.