UAE economic vision women in science, technology and engineering

UAE ECONOMIC Vision: Women in Science, Technology and ENgineering Sponsored by: UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Contents About this research Executive summary From oil to knowledge Weaving a new economic pattern Female STEM education Wise policy 13 Views on the labour market Strata manufacturing 14 19 Conclusion 20 Appendix: Survey results 21 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering About this research UAE economic vision: Women in science, technology and engineering is an Economist Intelligence Unit report, sponsored by the Advanced Technology Investment Company It looks at the United Arab Emirates’ strategy for becoming a knowledge-based economy, with particular attention paid to the role women will play in science, technology and engineering (STE) in the future The research is based on a combination of extensive desk research, in-depth interviews with independent experts and a survey of 394 UAE-based female students conducted in October and November 2013 Of these students, 85% are Emirati nationals and 70% are studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related courses The majority are in engineering (50%) at undergraduate level Most respondents (82%) are between the ages of 18 and 24, but almost 13% have work experience in a science, technology and engineering (STE) environment The Economist Intelligence Unit is solely responsible for the content of this report, which was written by Trevor McFarlane The Economist Intelligence Unit would like to thank the following individuals for their time and insights during this research: l Rehab Al Hashmi, electrical engineer, Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) l Nabil Ibrahim, chancellor, Abu Dhabi University l Roy Jakobs, chief executive, Middle East and Turkey, Royal Philips l Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, executive director, Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech) l Tod Laursen, president, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research l Maha Al Mansouri, director of human resources, Masdar Future Energy Company l Khawla Al Mentheri, petroleum engineer, Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO) l Badr Al Olama, chief executive officer, Strata Manufacturing l Suaad Al Oraimi, gender specialist, United Arab Emirates University l Diana Samulewicz, head of training and development, Direct HR Ltd l HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, minister of culture, youth and community development, UAE l HE Mohammed Omran Al Shamsi, chancellor, Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE l Nadia Alhasani, dean of the women in science, technology and engineering programme, Petroleum Institute l Sara Hussain Thabet, petrophysicist, Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) l Noor Ghazal Aswad, research assistant, North Dakota State University l Georgeta Vidican, senior researcher, Competitiveness and Social Development Department, German Development Institute l Heyam Al Blooshi, mechanical engineer, Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Company (GASCO) l Dhuha Fadhel, economist, Economic Policy and Research Centre, Dubai Economic Council l Behjat Al Yousuf, dean of students, Masdar Institute © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Executive summary The UAE has made admirable economic progress over the last 40 years, hitherto funded mostly by oil receipts Yet it has decided to chart a new policy course: diversification away from hydrocarbons towards a high-skilled, knowledgebased economy, which is increasingly focused on producing high-value products and services To meet this change in economic direction, thousands of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are needed And with government strategy focused on building an economy reliant on nationals, Emirati graduates are especially desirable Key to the success of this plan will be the empowerment of women UAE-based female students are outperforming their male counterparts, with educators interviewed for this report describing Emirati female students as being more dedicated and determined than male pupils The big issue is how many of these women will enter into STEM education and, eventually, productive positions in the labour market The answer has implications for policymakers, private employers and the government-related entities (GREs) tasked with creating the UAE’s future economic growth engines In this report, The Economist Intelligence Unit surveys the female students expected to shape the UAE’s next wave of development, both STEM3 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 and non-STEM-related, and looks at the science and technology projects creating demand for their skills If the country’s economic vision is to be achieved, at least with Emirati participation, empowering females in these areas is vitally important Here are the main conclusions of the report l The UAE has made admirable progress in empowering women Emirati women have reversed a gender gap in education and are now outperforming their male counterparts, including in STEM courses In the labour market females have also made impressive progress over the last 20 years, although participation remains low by global standards l STEM education is the long-term solution to Emirati unemployment A mismatch between labour market demand and educational output exacerbates jobless rates among citizens Encouraging more nationals into STEM education will bolster future employment levels, as demand for such graduates is expected to soar thanks to government investment plans l Emiratisation in science, technology and engineering (STE) will only work if citizens’ attitudes about the private sector change Almost three-quarters of survey respondents would prefer to avoid working in the private UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering sector, yet the public sector is bloated and government policy revolves around empowering private enterprise If unemployment is to be reduced, further efforts are needed to show Emiratis the benefits of working in the private sector l Female UAE-based STEM students view education as more than a means to make money Students see potential careers in STE fields as prestigious, interesting and, although not only attracted by money, they recognise the remuneration as rewarding Beyond this, they also see their career as a way to give back to the UAE by contributing in areas that are important to the nation’s development l Perceptions of females studying and working in STE are evolving quickly The idea that areas such as engineering are for men only is changing rapidly in the UAE The government is taking active measures to empower women in the workplace, and female students recognise that more opportunities are opening up to study and work in STEM-related areas However, although © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 attitudes are evolving swiftly, survey respondents with work experience think that UAE society still sees STE as a man’s domain l Women have made gains in STE work, but challenges still exist Females face an array of obstacles in the workplace, including managing a work-life balance; cultural obstacles, such as society seeing women as family caretakers rather than engineers or scientists; a dearth of role models and mentors; and gender discrimination More proactive measures from both the public and the private sector are needed to tackle these obstacles l Government efforts to empower women in STEM education will benefit the economy in the long-term A majority of STEM students surveyed plan to remain working in STE while raising a family at the same time, which is good news for employers and the broader economy If the female labour participation rate reaches the same level as that for men, GDP could benefit by as much as 12% UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering From oil to knowledge Since it was established in 1971, the oil-rich federation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has proved itself admirably nimble in building one of the Middle East’s largest economies At more than US$400bn, it is the second-largest economy in the Arab world, after Saudi Arabia, and accounts for more than one-quarter of the GDP of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) economies Industry, services, trade, transport, tourism, retail, and real estate and construction help propel the economy forward But with the world’s seventh-largest proven reserves in both oil and gas, hydrocarbons are the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 42% of the UAE’s GDP in 2012 In the capital, Abu Dhabi, which holds over 90% of the country’s reserves, the share of oil and natural gas is higher, at 56.1% UAE charter 2021 “Crude revenues are welcome, but the government is keen to reduce the dependency in order to become a sustainable, fully diversified economy,” says Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE minister of culture, youth and community development This objective has been laid out in the country’s development plan, The UAE National Charter for 2021, which was released in February 2010 Planners hope to use the UAE’s oil wealth to diversify away from hydrocarbons and move further up the production value chain, © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 thus boosting non-oil exports and attracting foreign direct investment “The UAE vision 2021 states that the federal government will work on replacing the current investment-led growth strategy by a strategy that is driven by knowledge, innovation, research, science and technology,” says Dhuha Fadhel, an economist at the Economic Policy and Research Centre in the Dubai Economic Council Sectors expected to drive the future economy include renewable energy; high-tech manufacturing; biotechnology; pharmaceuticals; telecommunications equipment; and aerospace and healthcare equipment, among others Oil and gas will remain vitally important, though, with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) projected to boost output capacity to 3.5m barrels/day by 2020 Creating this economic base will not be without its difficulties Data from the World Bank’s Knowledge Economy Index (KEI), which takes into account the extent to which a country’s environment is conducive for knowledge to be used for economic development, ranks the UAE in 42nd place Although this is respectable and the best in the Arab world, it is far from the topten ranking the country wants Education and training will be key if it is not only to climb up in the rankings, but also to reduce its dependency on foreign labour UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Creating jobs for locals Following decades of attracting millions of foreign workers, the UAE economy has become distorted, providing jobs better suited to unskilled foreigners rather than locals For example, the construction sector contributes over 10% to GDP and employs over 1m foreigners, but only a few thousand locals It does not help that Emiratis tend to be well off— thanks in part to the government’s generous distribution of oil wealth—and are therefore often unwilling to work in less prestigious roles Many also prefer the public sector, where employees work fewer hours There is, moreover, a common perception that working for the government offers better pay and greater job security, but the public sector is already bloated Exacerbating the matter is a mismatch between the labour market and the education system, which currently churns out a disproportionately high number of arts graduates For example, 53% of all Dubai-based graduates left university with a business degree in 2010 It is for these reasons that the unemployment rate among nationals remains stubbornly high at 14%, despite robust economic growth and huge government efforts to bring them into the workforce Indeed, policymakers introduced a quota system, known as Emiratisation, more than a decade ago, to draw more locals into the private sector But of the 4m employees in private businesses only 20,000 are Emiratis, and most work in banks, insurance firms and commercial companies Therefore, with so much ground to cover on Emiratisation, the government is taking another strategy to boost employment opportunities “Efforts are being made to encourage young nationals into STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] education, while © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 at the same time investing in capital-intensive industries that create high-tech jobs that will be attractive to nationals,” says Sheikh Nahyan Scientists, technologists and engineers But this, too, is not without challenges Developing a whole generation’s skills to suit these new industries takes time, and these talents are currently in short supply Degrees related to sciences, information technology and engineering produced fewer than 5,000 graduates in the academic year 2011-12 Yet demand for such talents is soaring: almost 60,000 extra engineers will be needed between 2011 and 2020, according to the UAE Society of Engineers ADNOC alone will require 1,000 a year, and the country’s rapid development in industry, aviation, aerospace, green technology and nuclear power will see demand for STEM graduates rocket This begs the obvious question: who will create this future economy? The population of the UAE is 8.3m, but Emiratis make up just 11.5%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics It becomes clear, then, that the country will continue to rely on expatriate workers and will require more foreigners, not fewer Figure Graduates of government universities 2011-12 (% respondents) Female Male 71% Source: UAE National Bureau of Statistics 29% UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Of course, at the same time more high-achieving nationals will be needed to fill these skilled positions too In many cases this means tapping into female graduates UAE women have reversed a gender gap in education For instance, girls in grade (approximately aged 8-9) are outperforming boys in reading, science and maths, according to the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, an international assessment of the mathematics and science knowledge of 4th- and 8th-graders By the age of 15, females considerably outperform males in all domains, although the gap narrows in mathematics, according to the Programme for International Student Assessment, or Pisa, by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) This trend continues at university, with females accounting for 62% of all graduates in the academic year 2011-12 In government universities, which educate mostly Emiratis, this figure jumps to 71% In STEM-related courses the number of female graduates reached 50.7% across all institutions, and 56.8% in government universities Indeed, in all areas except engineering women are graduating in higher numbers than men The reason for the success of female students is often cultural “There are more rules for us, and we’ve less free time, so we tend to study and be more disciplined than the boys,” says Heyam Al Blooshi, a mechanical engineer at Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Company (GASCO) Definition of labour force participation rate: the proportion of the population aged 15-64 that is economically active; all people who supply the labour for the production of goods and services during a specified period But there are also two other significant issues at play First, young men are more likely to study abroad than girls for cultural reasons No official UAE data exist, but the trend is reflected in the share of nationals studying on governmentfunded scholarships overseas: almost threequarters (68%) are male Second, men have more opportunities to go into well-paid positions in the police force or the army as high school graduates © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 Female empowerment Given this growing gender gap, it is vitally important for the UAE’s future economy that Emirati females make their way into relevant positions in the labour market But despite being open to the world, the UAE remains a relatively traditional society, where some citizens still view the primary role of women as the family care giver According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index (which is based on equality in economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, political empowerment and health), the UAE does best among Arab countries But in 109th position out of 136 nations, there is still a long way to go That said, policymakers are serious about empowering women Gender equality is enshrined in the nation’s constitution, and the UAE is the first country in the Arab world to enforce quotas for women on company boards It is also on the executive board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) Moreover, females have gained access to key positions in the cabinet, parliament, judiciary and diplomatic corps And young Emirati females are increasingly breaking the mould by becoming commercial airline pilots, joining the military and working in aluminium smelters Indeed, UAE women have made strong progress in the job market over the last two decades According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the female labour force participation rate reached 43.8% in 2011, compared with 25.6% in 1990.1 Most of these jobs are in the public sector, where females account for 66% of workers, one-third of whom hold senior positions Government efforts to push the female empowerment agenda have certainly helped these numbers Suaad Al Oraimi, gender UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering If the UAE follows a similar path, GDP is estimated to increase by 12% thanks to an uptick in productivity and consumption Opening Doors: Gender Equality And Development In The Middle East And North Africa, World Bank, 2013 Available at: https:// openknowledge.worldbank org/bitstream/handle/109 86/12552/751810PUB0EPI 002060130Opening0doors pdf?sequence=1 specialist at United Arab Emirates University, says: “The leaders of the country are big champions of female empowerment, but sometimes it takes society time to catch up.” Attitudes will probably change fast given the young age of the UAE population—those aged 15-29 account for 25% of the total “Look what the UAE has achieved in 42 years,” says Mohammed Omran Al Shamsi, chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology “The UAE people have seen the country change very quickly, and they’re used to adapting with this change— attitudes have evolved so much over the last ten It is worth remembering that some European countries have gone through similar transformations in recent decades During the 1980s the female labour force participation rate in Greece, Ireland and Spain was approximately 30%, around the same as the female Emirati level Over the next three decades participation increased by 15-20% in these countries If the UAE follows a similar path, GDP is estimated to increase by 12% thanks to an uptick in productivity and consumption.3 Weaving a new economic pattern The Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, a blueprint for economic development, will create huge demand for home-grown scientists, technologists and engineers Services (ACTDS) business unit, which includes 21 companies, officials are targeting 20,000 jobs within the aerospace manufacturing business alone by 2030 Released in 2008, the document focuses on economic diversification in eight key sectors: cultural tourism, aviation, manufacturing, media, healthcare, petrochemical, financial services and renewable energy Abu Dhabi-owned Etihad Airways and Dubaiowned Emirates Airways are driving demand in the aerospace industry with recent multibilliondollar orders for new aircraft, and both cities are boosting airport capacity, which means further demand for aviation engineers and technicians To this end Mubadala, a government-owned development company, is spearheading multibillion-dollar investments to build new industries, attract private investment and create hi-tech employment opportunities for nationals For example, through its Aerospace, Communications Technology and Defence Empowering the Third Billion: Women and the World of Work in 2012; Booz & Company, 2012 Available at: http://www.booz com/media/file/BoozCo_ Empowering-the-ThirdBillion_Full-Report.pdf years with regard to women working in different types of fields.” © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 Huge amounts of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates will be needed for other large-scale projects such as the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kazid), Masdar, a multifaceted investment in green technology, and the development of four nuclear reactors UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Female STEM education UAE policymakers have impressive plans for creating science- and technology-related projects to diversify the economy and create employment for locals The corollary is simple: if the country is to achieve these lofty goals, it must become easier for more students to enter into STEM education The Ministry of Education Strategy 2010-2020; UAE Ministry of Education, 2010 Available at: http:// planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/ upload/United%20Arab%20 Emirates/United%20 Arab%20Emirates_ Strategy_2010-2020.pdf Expanding Women’s Participation in Science, Technology and Engineering: The Case of the United Arab Emirates Paper submitted to the 8th Triple Helix Conference in Madrid, October 2010 Available at: http://www leydesdorff.net/th8/ TRIPLE%20HELIX%20-%20 VIII%20CONFERENCE/ PROCEEDINGS/0094_ Samulewicz_Diana_O-041/ Triple%20helix%20 paper%2030_8_2010_final pdf However, this is not without its difficulties, especially with regard to the quality of high school education, where rote learning is common Although the government is working to change this, “subjects are often taught in a less interactive way—chalk and talk The lab infrastructure, which would allow students to have a practical learning experience, is not widely available,” says, Diana Samulewicz, head of training and development at Direct HR Ltd It is for this reason that higher education institutions are often held back by the quality of school graduates For instance, 94% of Emirati students entering a federal university require a foundation year to improve levels of science, mathematics and English.4 Awareness of what STEM education entails is also low among many younger pupils in the UAE “Students often not fully understand what the different types of degrees and jobs actually entail,” says Tod Laursen, the president © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 of Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research Lack of awareness is even more pronounced within society, with many associating the word “engineer” with fieldwork and labour “When I first tell people I am a petroleum engineer, they say ‘okay, you work with cars or put petrol in the engines of cars’,” says Khawla Al Mentheri, a petroleum engineer at Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO) A family affair Even more damaging is when parents, guardians or siblings not understand what STE entails As in much of the Arab world, the family unit is extremely strong in the UAE, and the extended family plays a critical role in the development of daughters Owing to a lack of meaningful career guidance in high schools, family members often become career councillors, despite the fact that many are unqualified.5 Experts interviewed for this report say that many aspiring STEM students face problems with male and female family members believing that some areas of study are not suitable for women “It is important that the whole family is brought into the university recruitment process,” says Nadia Alhasani, the dean of the Women UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Figure Upon graduating what area of the economy would you most like to work in? (% respondents) 50 The public sector (ie, the government) A government related entity (ie, companies run like private firms yet with majority government ownership) 31 14 The private sector (ie, a private company) Other Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit survey not agree That said, a fraction of participants (4%) say they were inspired or influenced to study STEM by a mentor, and only 15% by a role model, which indicates either a lack of such people to emulate or their ineffectiveness The latter seems unlikely, given the success of female role models and mentors in attracting more women into STE in developed countries.8 “The more we push for women to move into highly responsible jobs, the more it helps the younger generation,” says Mr Ibrahim of Abu Dhabi University “Just by having a faculty member who is a female can get more women interested in entering the programme here in Abu Dhabi University.” Private versus public Engaging Girls in STEM: Role Models, Center for Research on Girls (CRG) at Laurel School, Ohio, 2011 Available at: http:// www.laurelschool.org/ about/documents/CRG_ ROLEMODEL.pdf 16 Encouraging more women into STEM education may prove easier than coaxing them into private business Four-fifths (81%) of STEM students not want to work in the private sector Half (50%) aim for a job in the public sector, almost one-third (31%) want to work for governmentrelated entities (GREs), and only 14% want to join a private enterprise A similar trend exists with non-STEM respondents, although they are slightly more willing to work in a private organisation (23%) Almost half (46%) target the government sector, and one-quarter (25%) want to work for a GRE The problem in the UAE © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 is perception, because “students think that working in a private company means they could lose their jobs easily, but if you look at the laws and regulations for hiring and firing, it’s strict,” says Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, the executive director of Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech) What’s more, there are other ways to attract locals to the private sector “Companies should focus on career development and the international experience that they can offer Emiratis,” says Roy Jakobs, chief executive, Middle East and Turkey at Royal Philips, a Netherlands-based multinational Salary and job expectations Nevertheless, cash is going to be an important part of the package when trying to attract fresh graduates, and UAE remuneration is hefty by international standards The majority (33%) of STEM graduates in our survey expect almost US$6,000-8,000 per month for an entry-level engineer package, which is broadly speaking the market rate Non-STEM respondents expect less, with the majority (31%) assuming almost US$4,000-6,000 per month Meanwhile, despite the rising demand for STEM graduates, many of whom are actually guaranteed jobs by government-owned UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering companies on graduating, students in our survey are slightly glum regarding their prospects Over four-fifths of STEM survey respondents (85%) think the job market is tricky for entrylevel graduates, and only 15% perceive it as favourable For those with two years’ experience, however, it is a different story: 71% of respondents believe prospects for finding work look good And with five years of work behind them, over four-fifths (87%) are confident that their skills will be in demand Surprisingly, given the oversupply of humanities-related graduates, non-STEM survey respondents are slightly more positive regarding their prospects for entry-level employment Roughly four-fifths (81%) in our survey think the job market is difficult for entry-level graduates, and almost one-fifth (19%) perceive it as favourable With two years of work experience, over half (54%) feel positive about their future employment outlook, and after five years in employment nearly three-quarters (76%) feel secure in their job Future make-up of the labour market The good news for employers and policymakers is that women studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics are keen to get into the STE workforce and stay there The majority of STEM survey respondents (68%) see themselves working as scientists, technologists and engineers in ten years’ time And over half of all survey participants (54%) plan to raise a family at the same time “Men have a role to play here as well, because it is up to us to support our wives when they want to work and progress in their career,” says Mr Janahi of DuBiotech Figure Thinking about your future, where you see yourself in 10 years time from now? (% respondents) 54 Raising a family and working within a STEM related field within the UAE 11 Raising a family and working within a STEM related area outside of the UAE Running your own business in a STEM related field Not raising a family and working in a STEM related field in the UAE Don’t know Raising a family and working within a non-STEM related field within the UAE Running your own business in a non-STEM field Not working, and instead being a stay at home mother Other Not working Not raising a family and working, but in a non-STEM related field in the UAE Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit survey 17 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering More worrying, however, is the finding that almost one-quarter (24%) of respondents plan to leave a STE-related field in the UAE within a decade, which will be a loss to the economy Given the large number of expatriates in the UAE, this is perhaps not surprising, as many graduates eventually return to their home country For those STEM survey respondents wanting to stay in STE in the UAE, the green technology sector is the most attractive industry to work in (22%), followed by energy (17%) It is worth pointing out that many survey respondents are guaranteed jobs in the energy sector after graduating, and the UAE government has heavily promoted Masdar, its multifaceted investment in green technology, which appears to have resonated with students Other sectors vary in the level of interest from students: biotechnology (15%); high-tech manufacturing (14%); nuclear (11%); and aerospace (2%) Among non-STEM survey participants, green technology holds even more appeal (33%); almost one-quarter express no preference (23%) about where they work, while 16% would choose the energy sector (16%) Less attractive industries to non-STEM respondents include nuclear (8%); high-tech manufacturing (7%); biotechnology (7%); and aerospace (3%) Employer’s perspective Regardless of how appealing these sectors become, companies will struggle to fill their vacancies with Emiratis only Access to local talent is an issue high on the agenda of all organisations “There is nothing I would like to more than hire more Emiratis, because locals always understand their own market better than foreigners, but we have to be realistic because the pool is relatively small,” says Mr Jakobs Active and smarter co-ordination between academia and industry would help bridge the shortage of locals “The bigger employers within DuBiotech Research Park told us their labour requirements—chemists, biologists, lab technicians and so on,” says Mr Janahi “We Figure Which of the following sectors would you most like to work in? (% respondents) 22 Green technology 17 Energy 15 Biotechnology 14 Hi-tech manufacturing Other 11 Nuclear technology 11 No preference Aerospace Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit survey 18 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering asked the local universities if they knew if this demand existed, and at the time they didn’t know anything about it.” Even when co-ordination between universities and the private sector works well, companies will still need to take extra measures to attract skilled locals Besides participating in the usual career fairs, Royal Philips has gone so far as starting a Facebook page to interact with young students—potential future job candidates— before they even graduate, the idea being that the company can engage with potential future employees throughout their study years Many companies carry out such campaigns because government pressure on private firms to hire nationals is strong, which means competition for skilled Emirati graduates is stiff And organisations face high churn rates among entry-level employees, despite regular salary hikes, because skilled local workers are poached Adding to the problem, many fresh graduates are impatient and expect to be a senior manager in a short amount of time, so moving from company to company is seen as way to progress Strata Manufacturing For effective Emiratisation, companies must create a clear communication strategy, explaining to staff the firm’s plans to develop their skills and career path as well as how their job contributes to the UAE’s development Strata Manufacturing, an aerostructures manufacturing facility wholly owned by the Mubadala Development Company, a government investment firm, supplies the likes of Airbus and Boeing Created in 2010 in Al Ain, east of Abu Dhabi City, the firm employs around 600 staff Of these, 35% are nationals, four-fifths of whom are women—and mostly all aerospace technicians Many people wonder how the manufacturer managed such an Emiratisation feat “We are seen as something different, exciting and new, and being part of the vision of Abu Dhabi means locals are very interested in 19 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 contributing to their country,” says Badr Al Olama, chief executive officer of Strata Another issue is that women often lack the mobility to travel to work or prefer to stay closer to their families for cultural reasons Strata’s success illustrates the importance of bringing jobs—and thus relevant education—to rural areas When Strata first opened its doors, sceptics doubted whether Emiratisation on the technical side could be achieved, but local women have shown that they are interested in working in non-traditional roles Communication is key to introducing nationals into the technical workforce “A fresh graduate should be shown on the first day the plan the company has for developing their skills and the development of a career path,” says Mr Al Olama UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Conclusion Looking at education data and listening to expert interviewees for this report, policymakers and employers can see that women are outperforming men in education, not least in areas related to creating a sustainable, diversified economy The participation of UAE females, then, will be vitally important if the country is to meet its ambitious economic and localisation goals As this report shows, the country has made admirable progress on the issue of women empowerment, but further work remains to be done On the basis of desk research, in-depth interviews and the survey conducted for this report, it is possible to identify a number of priorities These include the following l Take active measures to create passion in young Emirati children for science, technology, engineering and mathematics Focus more education on learning “by doing”, with co-educational workshops and projects where possible, and develop educators’ skills in teaching mathematics to improve student outcomes l Top priority must be given to reforming the high school education system Students should be given more time to choose between studying arts and sciences Measures are also needed 20 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 to improve the standard of career guidance available to pupils Families must be included in this process, so both students and parents understand the qualifications necessary for the modern job market l Steps need to be taken to create more female role models and mentors These should of course influence girls, but they should also target young boys and men to illustrate the importance of female participation in achieving the UAE vision Parents with daughters working in STE fields should be encouraged through awareness campaigns in order to inspire other families to follow suit l Bring relevant education and jobs to rural regions Women in rural areas often lack the mobility to travel to cities for work Geographical economic diversification, much of which is based on STE, should pay more attention to female employment, while courses at local educational institutions should reflect the local economy l Further measures are needed to foster a work environment that is more supportive of UAE women These include improved maternity leave and publicly financed parental leave schemes; enhanced access to childcare services; changes to the labour law to reduce genderbased discrimination; better flexible working arrangements; and access to finance and training for female entrepreneurs in STE fields UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Appendix: Survey results Note: Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding or the ability of respondents to choose multiple responses Gender (% respondents) Female 100 Male How old are you? (% respondents) 17 or younger 18-24 years old 82 25-34 years old 35-44 years old 45-54 years old 55-64 years old 65-74 years old 75 or older 21 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Which country are you from? (% respondents) United Arab Emirates 85 Oman Jordan Egypt Syria Sudan Yemen India US Comoros Morocco Pakistan Algeria Which of the following best describes your current level of study? (% respondents) First year 32 Second year 21 Third year 19 Fourth year 16 Masters Phd Other, please specify 22 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering What is the primary area of interest for your current study? (% respondents) Engineering 50 Humanities 15 Behavioural and social sciences Biological sciences Education Medical sciences Mathematical and physical sciences The following questions were answered by STEM graduates To what extent you agree with the following statements as to why you choose to study a STEM subject select one for each statement (% respondents) Strongly agree Agree somewhat Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know I want to give back to the UAE 51 38 71 29 STEM jobs offer greater opportunities to work abroad 58 STEM related jobs are well respected by society 24 40 26 13 31 STEM subjects are interesting 33 46 Studying STEM offers interesting job opportunities 76 11 Studying STEM will make me wealthy 48 41 3 How old were you when you first became interseted in STEM (% respondents) Under years old 5-9 years old 13 10-14 24 15-19 53 20-24 25 years or more 23 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Who, if anyone, inspired or influenced your decision to study a STEM subject? Please select all that apply (% respondents) Teacher 38 Mother or female guardian 37 Father or male guardian 33 Sister 26 Friend 23 Nobody 21 Brother 19 Extended family member 16 Government 15 Role model (eg, a famous scientist or engineer etc) 15 Other, please specify Mentor To what extent you agree with the following statements about the UAE? Please select one answer for each statement (% respondents) Strongly agree Agree somewhat Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know It is difficult for women to enter STEM study because society sees it as a man’s domain 29 12 23 27 Favouritism through personal connections is a significant factor in landing a job in the UAE 35 21 19 18 More and more opportunities are opening up to women to study STEM 10 1 36 51 Challenges still exist for women wanting to work in STEM fields 44 32 14 In your view, how would you characterise the support you received (and/or continue to receive) from your family when you decided to study STEM? (Respondents) Strong Weak No support Discouraging Not important On choosing to study STEM 49 3 While studying STEM 48 24 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Which, if any, of the following you plan to after studying your current STEM course? (% respondents) Work within a STEM related field within the UAE 28 Further study within the STEM area 27 Have a family, but work at the same time 13 Other, please specify 10 Don’t know Work within a STEM related field outside of the UAE Further study, but outside of the STEM area (eg, an MBA) Work, but not in a STEM related field Raise a family instead of working Upon graduating what area of the economy would you most like to work in? (% respondents) The public sector (ie, the government) 50 A government related entity (ie, companies run like private firms yet with majority government ownership) 31 The private sector (ie, a private company) 14 Other, please specify What are your salary expectations for an entry-level graduate position? (% respondents; US$1 = 3.67 Dhs) 30,000-40,000 dirhams per month 33 20,000-30,000 dirhams per month 18 10,000-20,000 dirhams per month 16 40,000-50,000 dirhams per month 11 50,000-60,000 dirhams per month I would work for free if it meant getting the right experience More than 70,000 dirhams per month Less than 10,000 dirhams per month 60,000-70,000 dirhams per month 25 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering In your view, how would you characterise the job market in the UAE for STEM graduates with the following amount of work experience? (% respondents) Very strong Strong Challenging Weak Very weak STEM graduate with 5+ years of work experience 69 18 11 1 STEM graduate with two years of work experience 14 26 57 STEM graduate—no experience 55 20 10 When thinking about your future, would you be willing to take a work placement outside of the UAE? (% respondents) Depends on the job 39 No 31 Yes 21 Don’t know Thinking about your future, where you see yourself in 10 years time from now? (% respondents) Raising a family and working within a STEM related field within the UAE 54 Raising a family and working within a STEM related area outside of the UAE 11 Running your own business in STEM related field Not raising a family and working in a STEM related field in the UAE Don’t know Raising a family and working within a non-STEM related field within the UAE Running your own business in a non-STEM field Not working, and instead being a stay at home mother Other, please specify Not working Not raising a family and working, but in a non-STEM related field in the UAE 26 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Which of the following sectors would you most like to work in? (% respondents) Green technology 22 Energy 17 Biotechnology 15 Hi-tech manufacturing 14 Other, please specify 11 Nuclear technology 11 No preference Aerospace Do you have any work experience in a STEM related field? (% respondents) Yes 19 No 81 To what extent you agree with the following statements about the obstacles female STEM graduates face when working in a STEM related job in the UAE? Please select all that apply (% respondents) Strongly agree Agree somewhat Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know Women in STEM face an obstacle in managing a work-family life balance 29 31 15 15 4 Women in STEM face an obstacle in the general belief that STEM related fields (such as engineering) are more suited to men 40 25 13 13 Women in STEM face cultural obstacles 31 35 15 10 Women in STEM face an obstacle with access to maternity leave 27 12 29 13 13 Women in STEM face an obstacle with gender discrimination 21 25 19 17 10 Women in STEM face an obstacle of lower salaries compared with their male counterparts 19 12 19 13 17 19 Women in STEM face an obstacle with a lack of role models and mentors 15 27 15 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 25 19 17 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering The following questions were answered by non-STEM students To what extent you agree with these statements? Please select one answer for each statement (% respondents) Strongly agree Agree somewhat Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know I like STEM related subjects, but am more interested in my current course 33 22 29 STEM subjects are too difficult 45 14 17 16 4 I can earn more money working in a non-STEM role 11 24 17 29 14 Favouritism through personal connections is a significant factor in landing a job in the UAE 25 28 29 STEM subjects are boring 19 19 41 10 STEM related jobs are not important to the development of the UAE 10 21 49 STEM work environments are male domains 21 23 20 20 11 STEM related jobs are not well respected by society 11 24 25 28 10 How old were you when you first realised that studying a STEM related course was not for you? (% respondents) Under years old 5-9 years old 11 10-14 17 15-19 43 20-24 15 25 years or more Upon graduating, what area of the economy would you most like to work in? (% respondents) The public sector (ie, the government) 46 A government related entity (ie, companies run like private firms yet with majority government ownership) 25 The private sector (ie, private company) 23 Other, please specify 28 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering What are your salary expectations for an entry-level graduate position? (% respondents; US$1 = 3.67 Dhs) 20,000-20,000 dirhams per month 31 10,000-20,000 dirhams per month 22 30,000-40,000 dirhams per month 18 40,000-50,000 dirhams per month I would work for free if it meant getting the right experience Less than 10,000 dirhams per month 50,000-60,000 dirhams per month More than 70,000 dirhams per month 60,000-70,000 dirhams per month In your view, how would you characterise the UAE job market for graduates in your field with the following amount of work experience? (% respondents) Very strong Strong Challenging Weak Very weak STEM graduate with 5+ years of work experience 56 10 20 STEM graduate with two years of work experience 47 38 STEM graduate—no experience 11 41 22 18 Which of the following sectors would you most like to work in within a non-technical role? (% respondents) Green technology 33 No preference 23 Energy 16 Nuclear technology Biotechnology Hi-tech manufacturing Other, please specify Aerospace 29 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 GENEVA Boulevard des Tranchees 16 1206 Geneva Switzerland Tel: +41 22 566 24 70 E-mail: geneva@eiu.com LONDON 25 St James’s Street London, SW1A 1HG United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 7830 7000 E-mail: london@eiu.com FRANKFURT Hansaallee 154, “Haus Hamburg” 60320 Frankfurt am Main Germany Tel: +49 69 7171 880 E-mail: frankfurt@eiu.com PARIS rue Paul Baudry Paris, 75008 France Tel: +33 5393 6600 E-mail: paris@eiu.com DUBAI PO Box 450056 Office No 1301A Thuraya Tower Dubai Media City United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 433 4202 E-mail: dubai@eiu.com While every effort has been taken to verify the accuracy of this information, neither The Economist Intelligence Unit Ltd nor the sponsor of this report can accept any responsibility or liability for reliance by any person on this white paper or any of the information, opinions or conclusions set out in this white paper [...]... respondents) Raising a family and working within a STEM related field within the UAE 54 Raising a family and working within a STEM related area outside of the UAE 11 Running your own business in STEM related field 8 Not raising a family and working in a STEM related field in the UAE 6 Don’t know 6 Raising a family and working within a non-STEM related field within the UAE 5 Running your own business in a non-STEM... working within a non-STEM related field within the UAE Running your own business in a non-STEM field Not working, and instead being a stay at home mother 5 4 2 Other 1 Not working 1 Not raising a family and working, but in a non-STEM related field in the UAE 1 Source: The Economist Intelligence Unit survey 17 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology. .. replace it have yet to be announced UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Wise policy Women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education face various hurdles, but the right policy from educators can overcome potential obstacles, resulting in more female scientists and engineers in the UAE In 2006 the Petroleum Institute (PI)— established over 12 years... working, and instead being a stay at home mother 2 Other, please specify 1 Not working 1 Not raising a family and working, but in a non-STEM related field in the UAE 1 26 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Which of the following sectors would you most like to work in? (% respondents) Green technology 22 Energy 17 Biotechnology... Thinking about your future, where do you see yourself in 10 years time from now? (% respondents) 54 Raising a family and working within a STEM related field within the UAE 11 Raising a family and working within a STEM related area outside of the UAE Running your own business in a STEM related field 8 Not raising a family and working in a STEM related field in the UAE 6 Don’t know 6 Raising a family and. .. supportive of UAE women These include improved maternity leave and publicly financed parental leave schemes; enhanced access to childcare services; changes to the labour law to reduce genderbased discrimination; better flexible working arrangements; and access to finance and training for female entrepreneurs in STE fields UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Appendix:... is key to introducing nationals into the technical workforce “A fresh graduate should be shown on the first day the plan the company has for developing their skills and the development of a career path,” says Mr Al Olama UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering 4 Conclusion Looking at education data and listening to expert interviewees for this report, policymakers and employers... plants and industry training facilities as well as internships This helps them to familiarise themselves with their environment, and for the workplace to become accustomed to their presence UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering 3 Views on the labour market If the UAE is to attract more women into the workforce as scientists, technologists and engineers, greater efforts... study path Appealing to their patriotism will not work either: more than two-thirds (70%) understand that UAE development depends on success in STE, yet they still decide to specialise in another area This is despite over half (55%) enjoying STEM subjects; they simply find their current field of study more interesting UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Figure 4 To what... Discouraging Not important On choosing to study STEM 49 7 5 3 3 While studying STEM 48 7 6 1 3 24 © The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2014 UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Which, if any, of the following do you plan to do after studying your current STEM course? (% respondents) Work within a STEM related field within the UAE 28 Further study within the STEM area 27 Have ... replace it have yet to be announced UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Wise policy Women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education face... up in the rankings, but also to reduce its dependency on foreign labour UAE Economic Vision: Women in Science, Technology and Engineering Creating jobs for locals Following decades of attracting... working in a STEM related field in the UAE Don’t know Raising a family and working within a non-STEM related field within the UAE Running your own business in a non-STEM field Not working, and instead