更糟糕的是,从2008年开始,美国本土学生在STEM专业中呈现出“断崖式下滑”的趋势。
尤因·马里昂·考夫曼基金会(Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation)2016年7月的一份报告指出,如果当前的趋势继续下去,到2020年,国际学生将占美国STEM博士学位毕业生的一半。(参考资料:⑥)
写到这里,大家应该都能看明白其中的奥妙了吧。为什么特朗普会频频为难中国科研人员和留学生呢?
很简单——
一方面,美国许多大公司和政府的一些关键部门,在想要招聘科技人员的时候,往往会惊恐地发现:没有足够的美国人可以胜任了!
另一方面,他们又眼睁睁地看着,在太平洋的另一端,日渐强大的中国,不仅本土拥有足够的科研人员和科技后备力量,甚至还在源源不断地送人才出国深造,学习先进的科学技术。
特朗普政府最近发布的报告《为成功制定路线图:美国的STEM教育策略”(Charting a Course for Success: America’s Strategy for STEM Education”)》指出:“现在,美国的创新能力及其繁荣与安全,比以往任何时候都更依赖于有效和包容的STEM教育生态系统……” (参考资料:⑪)
美国国家科学院的一份报告《在风暴中崛起》(“Rising Above the Gathering Storm,”)也指出:如果美国要在21世纪保持繁荣,就必须加强科学和数学教育。
为了增强美国本土的STEM竞争力,美国国会更是通过了《美国竞争法》(the America competes Act),授权为各种新计划提供资金,以改善K-12科学和数学教育。(参考资料:⑫)
种种努力,虽有效果,却没有能从根本上改变“美国学生不爱STEM”的大环境。
▽参考资料:
①https://recruitingdaily.com/why- ... w-we-fix-it-part-1/
②William J. Bennett and David Wilezol, Is College Worth It? (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 2013), 93.
③https://www.pewresearch.org/fact ... use-it-is-too-hard/
④Jeanne Batalova and Jie Zong, “International Students in the United States,” Migration Policy Institute, May 9, 2018.
⑤“The Importance of International Students to American Science and Engineering: Executive Summary,” National Foundation for American Policy, October 2017.
⑥Richard P. Appelbaum and Xueying Han, “Will They Stay or Will They Go?,” Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, July 2016.
⑦Rick Ye, “While US STEM Education Market Declines, China Invests Heavily,” Next Web, June 19, 2017.
⑧“Asia University Rankings 2018,” Times Higher Education, accessed January 25, 2019.
⑨“Sevis by the Numbers,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, April 2018..
⑩“Science & Engineering Indicators 2018,” National Science Board, January 2018
⑪Committee on STEM Education, “Charting a Course for Success: America’s Strategy for STEM Education,” National Science and Technology Council, December 2018.
⑫Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future,” National Academy of Sciences, 2007.