eMPOWR campaign to increase pipeline of personnel for key technology sectors gets boost with release of two surveys

The eMPOWR Canada campaign to stimulate the pipeline of graduates in strategic communications technologies sectors has beefed up its case for nearly $500 million in new federal funding, with the release of a double survey on industry and university needs. But the decision by the Liberal government to postpone the next Budget beyond the normal February timeframe could make it difficult to secure the five-year commitment the group's backers are seeking.

Entitled eMPOWR Industry and University Outlook 2000, the surveys were conducted by The Impact Group and bundled together in a single report. They contain persuasive data and projections that outline the growing shortage of highly qualified personnel (HQP) in industry. The surveys project a 70% shortfall between the number of graduates slated to emerge from Canadian universities and the requirements of industry.

The document also suggests that there must be a dramatic increase in the number of professors teaching in faculties associated with for the fields of microelectronics, photonics, optoelectronics, wireless and radio engineering (eMPOWR). By calling for a tripling of relevant professors from the current national total of 349 to 1,047, eMPOWR Canada officials hope to be able to meet the skyrocketing demand for HQP, which is estimated to grow 20% annually between 2001 and 2005.

A complementary study by the Canadian Institute for Telecommunications Research (CITR) provides historical data on the growing demand for more professors and the disturbing stagnation in the number of Masters and PhD level graduates emanating from Canadian universities. The study shows that there is strong anecdotal evidence that the demand for admission into electrical and computer engineering programs is outstripping the ability of universities to accommodate the volume of new students. The demand is pushing up the student-faculty ratio and forcing academic institutions to turn away qualified students by capping enrolment. The full report can be viewed at: www.citr.ece.mcgill.ca, under Publications.

The CITR study states that Canada's priorities for research funding do not take into account the growing importance of disciplines underpinning the information and communications technologies (ICT) sectors. As a result, relevant programs are not receiving support commensurate with ICT's importance as a growing source of output and innovation. Perhaps more disturbing is the finding that the increase in undergraduate enrolment between 1995 and 2000 is not being matched at the Masters or PhD levels. The report says Masters-level enrolment has remained stagnant while the level of PhD grads has actually declined. Masters graduates declined 3.9% over the study period, while PhD degrees granted plummeted 35.3% from 201 in 1995 to 130 in 2000.

The eMPOWR Canada campaign contends that only by increasing research support for faculty and aggressively recruiting new professors can the shortfall be reduced, although even its target of more than 1,000 professors by 2005 won't eliminate the problem.

"Our proposal is to triple the number of faculty but that still doesn't fit the bill," says Dr Doug Barber, eMPOWR Canada's campaign chair. "Achieving that will be a huge challenge... Recruiting hasn't been that good and actions underway to double the number of undergraduate students will have the effect of loading down existing faculty."

After a failed effort to secure government funding last year, the eMPOWR campaign was re-positioned and re-launched earlier this year (R$, September 15 & October 23/00). It also joined forces with a parallel bid backed by CITR and is now kicking into high gear. Extensive discussions have already been held with senior government officials and efforts are now moving into the political realm to secure the backing required to translate initial expressions of support into a firm funding commitment.

"We've already moved into the political level and have had discussions with key ministers," says Jocelyn Ghent Mallett, eMPOWR Canada's campaign leader. "But this is not a partisan issue. All parties are on record as supporting this on the education front."

Mallett says she is encouraged by recent statements by John Manley, minister of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Manley has acknowledged that the Liberal government must work to re-build Canada's crumbling education system by retaining and attracting the necessary talent the nation requires to compete in a knowledge-based economy. Manley has gone on record as saying that Canada can't spend too much on education and likened the crisis as equal to that of health care.

LOOKING FOR SIGNS

In the absence of a spring Budget, backers of the eMPOWR campaign (and any other S&T initiatives seeking funding support) would do well to re-examine recent government statements and documents released prior to the federal election.

As previously reported in RE$EARCH MONEY, Finance minister Paul Martin's address to the Toronto Board of Trade, the pre-election Economic Statement and Budget Update, and the Liberal election platform document (Opportunity For All) all contain important clues on where the government plans to invest in S&T.

Martin wants to see dramatic increases in Canada's R&D outlays, spending on education and venture capital investment. The Liberal election platform document is more specific, pledging to hike federal R&D expenditures by at least $1 billion over the next four years and including education in its list of S&T priorities.

Both Mallett and Barber say they are encouraged by recent events, but contend that an organization such as eMPOWR is required to ensure good intentions are realized with effective action.

"We need to have some entity that's really concerned with building capacity. It's hard for universities to set goals in this area and NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council) also doesn't view itself as targeting disciplines or even specific areas of activity," says Barber. "There isn't easily any other source you can point to for this initiative other than government, and they've had bad experiences picking and choosing. There's a need for eMPOWR."

Barber points to the impressive growth of the sectors covered by eMPOWR - growth rates considerably higher than the increase in HQP projected over the next five years. "The accomplishments of (eMPOWR related) industry in Canada are unmatched globally. There's something going on and we need to make it keep happening and make it grow."

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