Is scienceIs science still still attractive attractive toto students?students?
Is scienceIs science still still attractive attractive toto students?students?
Maija Bundule Maija Bundule
Ministry of Education and Ministry of Education and Science Latvia Science Latvia
Change of the number of students in Latvia (1990-2003)
126756
118845110500
10127089510
76620
6494856187
46696392603750041900
4630046000
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
140000
Proportion of women in different educational fields (%)
Educational field In total number of students
From those
obtaining a degree
or qualificati
on
Teacher training and educational science
84 89
Humanities and arts 78 82
Social sciences and law 65 70
Natural sciences and mathematics
36 55
Engineering and technologies 21 31
Agriculture 44 48
Health and social care 84 84
Services 56 29
On average 62 69
Age structure of researchers in Latvia
40-49 years 21,3%
50-59 years 36,6%
60 and more 33,4%up to 30
1,7%
30-39 years 7,0%
68105
18603
14568
9128
6725
4329
3225
2073
0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000
Social sciences
Teacher training andeducation science
Engineering andtechnologies
Humanities and art
Nature sciencesmathematics
Health, health and socialcare
Services
Agriculture
Number of students in different fields of study
Survey of last year grammar school students
• Aims of the survey– General interests of students– Prestige of different professions– Intention to study in university– Attitude to science
• At present only in grammar schools in Riga • Boys and girls ratio – 48%: 52%• Survey will be continued in other cities as well as
in rural areas•
General interests
• For girls:– Culture– Sports– Politics
• For boys– Sports – science and technology– Economy and finances
The most prestigious professions
• For girls:– Doctor– Scientist– Judge
• For boys;– Entrepreneur– Scientist as well as engineer
Attitude towards science and research
• Both boys ( 85%) and girls (71%) – had a positive attitude towards science– were sure that science contributes to
progress and economical development– our government should support
scientific investigations at much greater extent
Interest in own scientific career (%)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
YES NO Have notthought yet
GIRLS
BOYS
Survey of students in the University of Latvia
• Aims:– Students opinion about science and
research in Latvia– Intent to create an academic career– Interest to be involved actively in research
projects
• Received 954 inputs: 684 from female students and 270 –
Inputs received
29%
10%
29%
5%
0%
24%
2%
1%
Bachelor prof., 1 year Bachelor, prof., 2 year Bachelor, prof., 3 year Bachelor, prof., 4 year Bachelor, prof., 5 year Master programme , 1 year
Master programme, 2 year Master programme, 3 year
Study fields
23%
1%
43%
30%
2%
1%
Natural sciences Engineering Social sciences sciencesciencesciences
Humanities Do not know No answer
Opinion about RTD in Latvia (in general)
16%
64%
12%
6% 2%
Is developing Only some research fields are developing
No future for RTD Nothing going on at present
No answer
Do you plan to study in doctoral programmes
27%
14% 58%
1%
0%
Yes
No
Have not thought about this
Do not know what it is
No answer
Motivation for Doctoral degree?
16,51
23,4
41,28
38,08
31,1
19,04
1,6
7,41
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Highly rewarded job position
Studies abroad
High salary
Wide knowledge
Quick academic career
High image of scientist in society
Other reason
Do not know
Percentage
Do you plan to create your own academic career?
8%
36%
32%
24% 0%
Yes, certainly Yes may be
nēNo
Do not know No answer
Why Academic career ?
36,05
27,91
16,42
39,24
5,23
18,46
47,53
6,25
0,15
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Interesting work
Not fixed working hours
Liberal working conditions
International cooperation contacts
High salary
Low salary
Hard headwork
Nothing special
Other
Percentage
What puts bounds for active research work?
12,21
7,41
43,17
4,22
14,39
19,04
40,99
12,79
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Nothing, I am already involved
Not interested in research
Lack of time because of regular work
Lack of support from professor-supervisor
You cannot be independent performingresearch
There is an interest, but do not knowhow to star
Lack of necessary skills
Necessary literature not available
Percentage
Motivation for Active Involvement in Research Projects
3,92
8,72
32,7
7,56
6,98
5,09
25,29
45,78
40,12
61,05
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
None
Working with well-known scientists
Studying abroad
Attending conferences
Publishing of own work
Financial gains
Good salary
Valuable skills for future career
Applying skills gained
Deepening knowledge and skills
Percentage
Concluding remarks for grammar school students
• Still the image of science is high • Attitude regarding the scientists’ career
differs between boys and girls – boys are more interested in research
• In grammar schools predominantly there is a positive attitude towards science
• Needed more and wider information about science, researchers and their results in order to motivate students get more interested in scientific career
•
Concluding remarks for students from the University of Latvia
• There is a great interest about research work, doctoral studies and academic career,
• This interest should be supported and encouraged
•
Many THANKS for cooperation to
• Assoc.prof. Ausma Cimdiņa• Dr. philol. Ilze Trapenciere• Mg. Ingrīda Kalviņa• Bc. Solvita Kostjukova• Mg. Dace Rambaka