The correlation study between the educational market and the engineering work market.

Georgescu, Luminita ; Dragomir, Madalina

1. INTRODUCTION

Investing in individuals represents an advantage for them as well as for the society (Suciu, M.C. (2) (0) (0) (0) ). This type of investment should take into consideration the reality of the educational market (the specific condition of the work market; the correlation between the educational market and the work market; the demand for a certain socio-professional field).

Young people easily identify the most advantageous professions, as far as the earnings, the work opportunities and the socio--professional statuses are concerned (Georgescu, L. 2007).

2. SURVEY OF THE ENGINEERING EDUCATIONAL MARKET

This information analysis was done by The Romanian Statistics Institute (http://www.insse.ro--2006), regarding the number of students who want to enter the faculty, on specialization groups, from 1990 until 2005.

[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]

From 1990 until 2000 we can see a decrease in the number of students choosing to continue the technical studies, in favor of some other specializations (economical, juridical). After this, a remedy period followed.

[FIGURE 2 OMITTED]

With reference to the data received from the IMST faculty's secretariat, regarding the number of candidates and the number of vacant positions registered from 1990 until 2007, we have presented the dynamics of registrations to this faculty.

We can notice that, from 1991 until 2003, youngsters had shown a lowering attraction towards the IMST faculty's specializations. In 2003, the continuous decrease of the candidates' number has lead to the decision of changing the admission configuration from exam to file contest. Candidates seem to prefer this type of admission, which is now applied by particular universities too, as the intellectual effort and the stress caused by an exam, very close in time to the bachelor exam, are diminishing.

Since 2005, the attraction has continuously been growing and growing and we can notice that its level is now, equal to that of the engineering work market.

3. SURVEY OF THE ENGINEERING WORK MARKET

Analyzing the engineering field and the enthusiasm shown by the students regarding the technical faculties, we are assisting alternating periods. Once in five years we can witness periods of a surplus of engineers and periods of deficit.

The decreased attraction towards engineering caused, for a short time, a lower number of students opting for technical faculties. In the last years, the educational request for such professions has increased. We are facing now an improvement of the perspectives offered by these faculties.

[TABLE 1 OMITTED]

4. DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS

Until 1989, there was a great attraction towards the engineering professions, due to the big perspectives offered by the engineering market. After the 90's, we have witnessed a reduced attraction towards the technical specializations. So, there is a certain gap between the educational market and the work market (students who had started the university studies in 1989, finished the specialization in 1994).

There has been a reducing demand for engineers on the work market, in the period of transition, thing which determined an increasing number of students wanting to become engineers. The surplus of offers represents a feature of the educational market's complexity, as well as the result of some transitional situations.

We have the key. Some students may choose to study a technical faculty and in the same time they may simultaneously decide on other much more "attractive" faculties. In other cases, having an engineering diploma, students can opt for another faculty.

They have the key. Those in charge with the educational process, noticing the decreasing work opportunities, should vary the educational offer, through creating new perspectives in training the students for other related, catching jobs and through creating partnerships with the successful existing companies. The board of the IMST faculty saw this perspective and set up new specializations in order to give options which could answer the needs for jobs like: economist engineer, quality engineer and robotics or mechanics-electronics engineer. Since the setting up, almost 60% of the candidates have one of these specializations as their first option.

The didactic activity should always keep up with the development of science. This can be possible as long as the teacher is an active researcher, an example for all of his students. The IMST faculty has replaced some scientifically obsolete courses by new, up to date ones. These courses are much more attractive for the students and they offer a variety of modern presentation options. They also develop the students' skills and broaden their further options regarding a future career, for example: 3D Modeling and simulation; Computer aided design; Advanced parametric design; Techniques and methods for auditing control; Quality engineering for industrial robots.

We find the key they have. Many Romanian employers make efforts to find the best engineers. (http://www.cariereonline.ro). There are companies which sponsor the technical faculties with money or equipment. They also have recruiting programs for graduates or youngsters in the final years of study. In 2007, The Polytechnic University of Bucharest--IMST faculty in partnership with Dr. Krocher Group set up the Center of Studies, Development and Marketing of Products and Technologies. This centre is specialized on CNC machine tools and it has proved itself to be a great opportunity for students who need to practice their laboratory activities on high generation equipment.

Another example is represented by Renault, a company which recruits and offers scholarships to final year students and to master students.

5. CONCLUSIONS

The rapid changes of technology, the discovery of new materials, the economic situation and the much more flexible international work force emphasize the fact that we should adapt education to the different trends that may appear.

It is estimated that before 2010 (http://www.seeeducoop.net), almost half of the new jobs in the UE will be destined to persons with high qualifications. So, the employees will have to improve their ability to adapt to the new requirements the market and the current economy may have. On the other hand, the employers should consider the possibility of creating a much more flexible schedule or that of organizing trainings in order to get the employees' loyalty (http://www.Manpower.ro). Furthermore the employers, as well as the authorities, should encourage the strategic migration, the development of specializations and they should, most of all, invest in formation.

It is compulsory for Romania to elaborate a strategy of educational development, based on permanent formation and in tight connection with the trends existing in the socio-economical development of the country. The strengths and skills one can get due to the professional formation, allow the individuals to be well informed and to properly face changes.

The survey of the work market and adapting the education to its needs may foresee or give solutions to a crisis situation.

The rapid evolution of the main fields of activity requires permanent information, formation and improvement, processes that can be accomplished only by having an extraordinary flexibility of the mind and of the attitudes. If there is no flexibility, it can be educated, only that it may take the time and the sacrifice of many other generations.

6. REFERENCES

Georgescu, L. (2007) Cercetari privind optimizarea formarii RU in sistemele industriale, Referat III (Research regarding the improvement of human resources in the context of industrial systems)

Suciu, M.C (2000) Investment in Education, Editura Economica, pp 105-107

***http://www.cariereonline.ro/index.php/articles/Unde_ne_su nt_inginerii (Where are our engineers), Accesed on: 2008-08-13

***http://www.manpower.ro/Study, Regarding Talent Deficit, Accesed on: 2008-08-13

***http://www.insse.ro--The National Statistics Institute, Statistics Year Book (2006), Accesed on: 2008-08-13

***http www.see-educoop.net/education_in/pdf/commun-from commision-oth-rmn-t 02.htm, Accesed on: 2008-08-13