Kelly Scientific Resources working with universities and industry to tackle scientific skills shortage
29 August 2007
The current shortage of science workers has seen Kelly Scientific Resources (KSR), a division of recruitment company Kelly Services, working with universities and the science industry to bridge the skills gap.
KSR has established the Future Scientists Program, an initiative that has seen selected universities working with industry to provide career advice, course lectures and industry placements for students studying chemistry.
The program aims to encourage people to study science and fill the skills shortage currently being experienced particularly by the chemistry industry.
Kelly Scientific Director, Anne Sabine said the majority of the demand for chemistry students is coming from the Pharmaceutical, Food, Chemical and Environmental industries with the roles usually involving analytical, quality assurance, or lab technician tasks.
Ms. Sabine said “There are critical shortages in the science industry, especially in the field of chemistry.
“We are currently trying to attract more students to study science by providing the opportunity to gain information, advice and industry experience and therefore real job opportunities.
“At the University of Queensland we are in the initial stages of setting up careers lectures for first year students and industry placements for second year students.”
According to Ms. Sabine, there is currently a gap between the level of skill that universities believe industry wants, and the actual levels that industry needs.
“There is room for better communication between education providers and the science industry. We hope to bridge that gap and provide industry with the opportunity to participate in the education of their future employees.
“We are currently surveying our science industry clients to gain a full understanding of the type of graduates they want, which courses they would prefer and at which universities.”
She said research and development roles which are highly paid positions are less common in the industry, however most students are not aware of this fact and their expectations of the industry are often misrepresented.
“Many young science students have unrealistic expectations of what working in the science industry will involve. So giving them the opportunity to find out about possible careers, the types of jobs available and to experience the work first-hand is invaluable.
In the current environment, approximately 40 per cent of Kelly’s scientific business is related to the high demand for chemists, indicating the huge growth in the industry.
Ms. Sabine said a simular program being run by Kelly Services’ scientific division in the United States has been very successful and her team hope to emulate that success here in Australia.
Kelly Scientific Resources is also in talks with universities including Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the University of Technology Sydney about the program.
Media contact:
Renata Davis
Foresight Communications
02 9241 2811
0438 525 413
rdavis@forecoms.com.au