Shortage of scientists?

[expat]

The CBI says there are not enough young scientists to meet the needs of industry

I suppose that doesn't mean that there is a shortage of scientists, just that there are not enough highly-qualified scientists willing to work long hours for low wages? We know the answer to that....

Why is it that when business "calls for" something for the good of the country, what they mean is that they want free help from the government, using our young people as fodder if necessary?

[DimPrawn]

Lots of scientists in India.

Much cheapness, plenty quickness.

[NotAllThere]

My son is thinking of doing a degree in Physics and Nanotechnology. In Switzerland, course fees will be £1000 a year. In the UK, £3500.

[expat]

My son is thinking of doing a degree in Physics and Nanotechnology. In Switzerland, course fees will be £1000 a year. In the UK, £3500.

England.

Look, I am really sorry for people in that position (it happens to include us, with a daughter going to Uni in England this year).

The Scots pay much less in Scotland because the Scottish goverment decided that that was a good way to spend some govt money. The govt in London could have decided the same for England, but it didn't. Personally I think that was not a good decision, but presumably the govt reckon that you don't need to make scientists, you can just buy them from abroad.

BTW English students in Scotland pay English-level fees simply on a principle of reciprocity, because Scots in England have to. Personally as a Scot I would pay their fees to encourage the best of England to come to us

[DimPrawn]

My son is thinking of doing a degree in Physics and Nanotechnology. In Switzerland, course fees will be £1000 a year. In the UK, £3500.

What do you bloody want, "free education" for your taxes!

[Spacecadet]

Lots of scientists in India.

Much cheapness, plenty quickness.

You may laugh but India and China have huge universitys dedicated to science and engineering and are constantly building more.
They're boomed, we're doomed!

[DimPrawn]

You may laugh but India and China have huge universitys dedicated to science and engineering and are constantly building more.
They're boomed, we're doomed!

I'm not laughing, I'm friggin crying.

Still, education, education, education and all that, as someone or other once said was the priority for Britain.

[expat]

I'm not laughing, I'm friggin crying.

Still, education, education, education and all that, as someone or other once said was the priority for Britain.

BTW I notice that the Universal Child Benefit stops when the child turns 18, unless she is in continuing education in a non-degree course. Our daughter is going to study Biology, specialising in Forensic, for a degree; so no help there. If she did hairdressing or chiropody instead, the "universal" benefit would continue.

I do think that NL has a fairly rigid, often non-explicit, world-view.

[NotAllThere]

You may laugh but India and China have huge universities dedicated to science and engineering and are constantly building more.

They do. I don't know about China, but I do know that in India there is a big problem with people with degrees who are barely literate. Obviously, they have a few world-class insititutions, but it is only a few.

[NotAllThere]

England.

Look, I am really sorry for people in that position (it happens to include us, with a daughter going to Uni in England this year).
...
BTW English students in Scotland pay English-level fees simply on a principle of reciprocity, because Scots in England have to. Personally as a Scot I would pay their fees to encourage the best of England to come to us

I just look at the UCAS site, and it says

"EU students (who are not UK nationals) will be treated as if they were home students living in Scotland. Eligible students will not pay tuition fees but will apply to SAAS to have the full fee paid for them"

So French students can study at Scottish institutions for free, but non-Scottish resident students can't.