BME Participation in Northwest SET Dr Kate Booth Dr Haifa Takruri-Rizk Dr Kamel Mansi Dr Lalith Welamedage

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne2 Outline of Presentation The projectThe project –Background Context –Objectives Theoretical rationaleTheoretical rationale Research Design and MethodologyResearch Design and Methodology Preliminary findings of the Undergraduate surveyPreliminary findings of the Undergraduate survey Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne3 Background: National Context UK economy will face a labour shortfall of about 714,000 in 2010 [1]UK economy will face a labour shortfall of about 714,000 in 2010 [1] In 2002 [2]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&D30% 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 sectormore than 70% of value added, employment and investment in plant and machinery in the manufacturing sector more than 85% of total exportsmore than 85% of total exports

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne4 Background: National Context Minority ethnic groups will account for half the growth in the working age population between 1999 and 2009 [3]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]A survey of registered engineers in 2005 showed that only 3% were from ethnic minorities [4]

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne5 Background: Northwest Context Number of young people in the region predicted to drop by 12% (cf national average of 7%) [5]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]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]BME unemployment is higher than the national average [6] Disparity exists between BME and white employment rates for highly qualified people [8]Disparity exists between BME and white employment rates for highly qualified people [8]

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne6 Background: Northwest Context Science and engineering occupations are identified as regional ‘Problem Priority Occupations’ in the Regional Development Plan [9]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]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]Economic strategy will have to embrace a ‘more culturally diverse population’ [8]

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne7 Objectives of 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. 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.

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne8 Theoretical Rationale Three main dimensionsThree main dimensions –Employers’ requirements and Employability Skills Interaction between Universities and EmployersInteraction between Universities and Employers Academically qualified people or technically skilled peopleAcademically qualified people or technically skilled people –Career Choice Influencing factors on career choice (social capital, role models, etc)Influencing factors on career choice (social capital, role models, etc) –Discrimination and Diversity Management Queuing TheoryQueuing Theory Competition theoryCompetition theory Diversity ManagementDiversity Management

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

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne10 Census Census of SET employersCensus of SET employers –1300 questionnaires sent to SET employers in the Northwest to date –Further 1400 to be sent out Census of SET undergraduate studentsCensus of SET undergraduate students –1200 questionnaires distributed to undergraduate students on SET degrees at the University of Salford

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne11 Graduate Survey Graduates StratifiedGraduates Stratified –Ethnicity stratum –Gender stratum, and –Degree programme stratum Sample SelectionSample Selection –Complex Sampling using SPSS 500 questionnaires sent out500 questionnaires sent out

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne12 Instrumentation Employer QuestionnaireEmployer Questionnaire –Background information (nature & size of business, ethnicity of employees, etc) –Equality and Diversity management –SET policies and initiatives Undergraduate QuestionnaireUndergraduate Questionnaire –Degree choice –Future career goals and aspirations –Equality and Diversity

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne13 Instrumentation Graduate QuestionnaireGraduate Questionnaire –Degree choice –Employability –Occupational status –Career progression –Equality and Diversity

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne14 Results to date Based on an initial analysis of 95 returned undergraduate questionnairesBased on an initial analysis of 95 returned undergraduate questionnaires Profile of respondentsProfile of respondents –Ethnicity64 White students (67%) 30 BME Students (32%) –Gender60 Males (63%) 32 Females (34%) –Funding Parent/s :All - 43 (45%) BME – 14 (47%)Parent/s :All - 43 (45%) BME – 14 (47%) Self-funded (working while studying):Self-funded (working while studying): All 37 (39%) BME – 10 (33%) Student loans : All - 62 (65%) BME – 17 (57%)Student loans : All - 62 (65%) BME – 17 (57%)

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne15 Degree Choice Personal factorsPersonal factors –Interested in the field of study: All - 80 (84%) BME - 25 (83%) External factors i.e. labour market pull factorsExternal factors i.e. labour market pull factors –Offer better employment opportunities: All - 46 (48%) BME – 14 (47%) All - 46 (48%) BME – 14 (47%) –Provides better career opportunities: All - 45 (47%) BME – 16 (53%) All - 45 (47%) BME – 16 (53%) Family influenceFamily 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%) All – 21 (22%) BME – 9 (30%)

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne16 Career Choice Want to pursue a career in SETWant to pursue a career in SET –Yes : All – 66 (70%) BME 24 (80%) Want to stay in the Northwest after graduation: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”

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne17 Equality and Diversity Does Ethnic origin affect one’s career?Does Ethnic origin affect one’s career? Yes : All - 25 (28%)BME – 10 (33%)Yes : All - 25 (28%)BME – 10 (33%) No: All – 39 (44%)BME – 6 (19%)No: All – 39 (44%)BME – 6 (19%) Don’t know : All – 25 (28%)BME – 16 (50%)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”

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne18 Concluding Remarks Undergraduates are personally motivated to participate in SET, but …Undergraduates are personally motivated to participate in SET, but … … they are less motivated to stay in the Northwest after graduation… they are less motivated to stay in the Northwest after graduation We have yet to: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!We look forward to some interesting results!

23 rd November 2006GEM-SET Conference, University of Newcastle upon Tyne19 References 1.Aggarwal, A and Pandey A, Offshoring of IT services – Present and Future, Evalueserve, New Delhi, (2004) 2.The Importance of Physics in the UK economy, Institute of Physics, March Ethnic Minorities and the Labour Market, Final Report, Cabinet Office Strategy Unit, March The Engineering Technology Board Survey of Registered Engineers, Full Report, August Northwest Regional Economic Strategy 2006, March Labour Force Survey 2002/ 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 Abrahams D, A Desk-based Health Impact Assessment of the North West Regional Economic Strategy, February Northwest Objective 3 Regional Development Plan, February 2005