Systems engineers are in short supply

Computers were developed only a few decades ago but they are such an important part of today's world that it is impossible to imagine life without them.

In recent years the global IT and communications revolution and rapid integration of networks have created a need for a whole new generation of systems engineers.

Systems engineering is an industry focused discipline relevant to a wide range of sectors, including aviation, manufacturing, transport, energy and logistics, but it is a critical part of our everyday lives, too.

Examples of complex networks include the modern ATM cash dispenser system or the satellite Global Positioning System, both of which are used worldwide.

However, globally there is a shortage of qualified systems engineers, particularly in industries such as oil and gas where the demand has grown faster than supply.

A recent study by energy giant BP suggests that the average age of working engineers is almost 50 – highlighting the urgent need for young professionals.

A global survey conducted by The McKinsey Quarterly reveals that respondents feel finding talented people is likely to be the single most important managerial task for the rest of the decade.

In the Middle East, many key industries such as energy and aviation as well as some of the most strategically important sectors of the future, such as industrial manufacturing and robotic engineering, are looking for professionals.

Companies in these sectors have had to look for qualified professionals abroad or sponsor students to train outside the region. However, the UAE is now taking measures to ensure it is better prepared for the future.

The British University in Dubai (BUiD) is launching a pioneering programme to boost the level of key skills in the region through the creation of the Middle East's first MSc in systems engineering.

Emirates Business spoke to faculty members from BUiD, a research-based postgraduate university, and research firm Gartner to learn more about the reasons for the lack of skilled systems engineers, the projected growth of the IT sector and what is being done to meet the shortage in the UAE.

"IT systems are becoming more integrated in all aspects of life and industry," Professor Bassam Abu-Hijleh of BUiD said. "They add intelligence, simplicity and functionality that make everyone more productive.

"However, systems integration and ease of use come at a cost as such systems become more complex. The people in charge of designing, operating and maintaining such systems need to have a higher and more detailed knowledge of the theories, modelling and applications of such systems.

"The oil and gas industries, too, have grown significantly in size and importance as they struggle to supply the world with its energy needs."

Professor Abu-Hijleh, the Atkins Senior Lecturer, Head of the Sustainable Design of the Built Environment Programme and Fellow, Cardiff University, said the oil industry had to rely on ever more advanced exploration, extraction, transportation and processing to meet these demands. "However, the pool of skilled people required to meet all these needs has not grown at a compatible rate, resulting in a severe shortage," he said.

The fact that the IT industry is set to grow further as people become more and more dependant on technology does not help matters.

A key indicator of this growth is the increase in spending on the IT sector by companies.

According to a worldwide survey of 1,500 chief information officers (CIOs) by Gartner Executive Programs, spending on IT is expected to grow in 2008 with worldwide budgets expected to increase by an average of 3.3 per cent.

Mark McDonald, Group Vice-President and Head of Research for Gartner EXP, said: "CIOs recognise the importance of IT in making the difference by changing business processes, attracting customers and developing new products and services."

Gartner's research reveals that enterprises are willing to invest in IT that delivers distinctive solutions. IT budgets at these companies are growing at a rate of 4.9 per cent on average, compared with budgets elsewhere which are rising at an average of 3.1 per cent.

While overall IT effectiveness continues to climb, CIOs face challenges with their people, their processes and IT performance. Only 27 per cent of CIOs believe that they have the right number of skilled staff to meet business needs. That is impacting both IT performance and IT support for enterprise strategies.

McDonald said: "The skills of your people count. Two-thirds of IT organisations that do not meet business expectations claim that skills are at the core of their performance issues.

"This issue is not expected to be resolved quickly because only half of the CIOs who report a skills issue have building IT skills as a top-five strategy for 2008."

Things are set to get worse, according to findings by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles.

The institute has tracked the decline in the percentage of incoming freshman students who list computer science as a probable major. That percentage dropped from 3.5 per cent in 1999 and 2000 to about 1.1 per cent in 2004, including declines of 6.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent among men, and about 1.1 per cent to about 0.3 per cent among women.

Fundamentally there simply are not enough students in the pipeline to replace the specialists who will soon be retiring in droves, and with computer science enrollment dropping precipitously IT jobs are either being unfilled or are taking a long time to fill.

Abu-Hijleh said: "Studies and reports from the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany and other countries in 2008 indicate a shortage in the supply of top engineers across the oil and gas sectors, and defence and aviation industries, to name a few.

"Reports published in March also confirm new advertising initiatives employed by companies across Japan to make engineering positions more appealing to the younger generation."

Professor Robert Whalley, Dean of Engineering at BUiD, said: "Companies are attempting to increase industry pay scales for systems engineers and improve working conditions in an attempt to make the positions more attractive for the next generation of young graduates.

"The increasingly complex demands of individual industries means a struggle to find the qualified and experienced graduates."

As a result businesses are having difficulty in finding creative problem solvers in an era where IT affects just about every job, even those that seemingly have nothing to do with technology.

Abu-Hijleh said: "Systems engineers are required in all aspects of industry and services. This includes heavy industries such as oil and gas, aluminum and steel foundries and cement plants.

"Systems engineers are also required in many service sectors such as construction, operation and maintenance of buildings.

"Vital public services, such as water and electricity, also rely heavily on systems engineers to provide uninterrupted services at the highest quality and the lowest cost.

"Sometimes a company may not even know that they need a systems engineer or the benefits that they could get by employing systems engineers. These benefits include increased and more efficient productivity and less downtime, all of which would result in increased reliability and profitability."

In a bid to solve the crisis, efforts are made in many countries to educate children about understanding the role of systems engineers.

Whalley said: "In March 2008, BAE systems in the UK launched a major roadshow for schools as part of its commitment to supporting the development of young engineers in the country, by taking engineering directly into the classrooms using actors and simple props."

The UAE has had to rely mainly on expatriates to fulfill this role. This is becoming more difficult as the shortage of skilled personnel and growth in other countries is making it more difficult to attract the required number of qualified people.

Abu-Hijleh said: "The UAE has a good pool of talented nationals with proper educational background and work experience to be able to fulfill a significant portion of the UAE's growing demand for systems engineers. What is needed is a high quality, focused programme that will provide them with the necessary tools and expertise to satisfy the UAE's needs."

Whalley said: "Importing talent can solve immediate shortages. However, this is not a long-term solution. Completely depending on importing talent for key professions makes the economy extremely dependent on foreign economic and labour market conditions.

"To sustain solid long-term growth it is important to encourage the development of local talent."