Argentinians’ university education. Both in Engineering and in Sciences, the number of graduates is only half of what is needed. According to the experts, the reason is that people consider them difficult courses of study.

By Alfredo Dillon for Clarín

Argentina needs to double the amount of scientific and technological degrees’ graduates. Such estimation was calculated by the Centre of Education Studies of Argentina. It is the result of comparing the amount of graduates on these disciplines in Argentina against the amount of graduates in other developed countries.

According to the Ministry of Labour and private consultancies, the most demanded degrees in the local labour market nowadays are: Engineering, Exact Sciences and those degrees related to new technologies. The necessity of these professions has escalated over the past years and in most cases, graduates’ employability is guaranteed.

Among Engineering Degrees, the most demanded specialties are Electrics, Mechanics, Textile, Naval and Oil. “Engineers are trained to face challenges such as climate change, wealth development and creation, energy provision and problems associated with housing, transport and communications”, explained Catalina Nosiglia, secretary of Academic Affairs of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). “Degrees such as Agronomy are also extremely important for our country, as they entail knowledge on natural resources”, added Nosiglia.

Regarding the lack of students enrolled in scientific and technological degrees, from the National Technological University (UTN) it has been pointed out that there are three major reasons: “Firstly, young people believe these are difficult degrees. Secondly, these degrees are indeed hard for those who did not have a good high school education.” The experts agree on the fact that the disappearance of technical schools during the 90’s had a very negative impact.  

Besides, “As graduates on these degrees have 100% chances of being hired, many students drop university to start working while they are still studying”, stated Guillermo Oliveto, dean of the UTN headquarters in Buenos Aires.

In Argentina, Scientific and Technological degrees’ graduates reach only 14% of the total number of graduates, while in countries such as Korea and Finland, they reach around 30% (check scholarship programs). According to the Federal Council of Engineering Deans, 6.500  engineers graduate every year in the country, a figure lower than in Brazil and China, and a number that should be doubled to reach the market’s needs.

The contrary happens with degrees such as Law, Administration, Medicine and Accounting, which have been leading the ranking of the most chosen degrees over the past ten years. However, the first three have become saturated as the demand has been covered. “This situation, connected with the fact that traditional degrees are pursued and that there is a lack of knowledge regarding the real possibilities of entering the labour market, causes a supply of young professionals who do not fit the demands of the market”, pointed out Alicia Giomi, Operations deputy director at Manpowergroup Argentina.

Giomi believes that, when it comes to picking a course of study, young people do not really analyse what is the profession that grants the best opportunities. “It is vital for high school graduates to undergo a proper vocational orientation process, considering their personal interests and motivations but also focusing on what the market needs”, she said.

“In the United States and Europe, there is a clear conscience regarding what is convenient to study and about the future trends concerning labour market needs. Here, in Argentina, young people study what they like and the possibilities of getting a job upon graduation has no weight in the decision”, said Alex Fainstein, deputy director of the Science area at the Balseiro Institute. In order to underpin the decisions young people make, the Government launched the Bicentennial Scholarships, which provide support to students who choose among the 300 priority degrees.

Recent data from the Ministry of Education establishes that Social Sciences and Humanities have around 58% of university graduates, despite the fact that these degrees are the less demanded by the labour market. Economics and Administration on their own have around 20 thousand graduates per year, ten times the number of Exact Sciences graduates (Biology, Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry), which barely reach 2,500 per year.

Collaborators: Correspondents from Rosario and Mendoza

This article was originally published by the Clarin newspaper in Argentina.http://www.clarin.com/sociedad/formacion-universitaria-carreras-alumnos_0_1243675639.html