Half the number of doctoral students at graduate schools that support science and technology nations

The number of doctoral students at graduate schools that support science and technology nations is half of the peak time, October 4, 19:56

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The announcement of the winners of this year's Nobel Prize will begin on the 5th.

It will be noticed whether it will be the Japanese award for the third consecutive year, but the number of doctoral students at Japanese graduate schools, which are said to support the nation of science and technology, is the peak of the number of people going on to the master's program in Heisei. It has been decreasing since FY2003, and it has been almost halved last year, and Nobel laureates are calling for measures.

In Japan, following the medical and physiological awards of Tasuku Honjo, Akira Yoshino won the Chemistry Award last year, and the announcement of the Nobel Prize from tomorrow is drawing attention as to whether it will be the Japanese award for the third consecutive year. I am.

However, while the number of award winners continues to decrease, the number of doctoral students at Japanese graduate schools, which are said to support the nation of science and technology, continues to decrease, and according to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 2003 at its peak. The number decreased from about 12,000 in the year to 5,963, which was almost half last year.

In addition, the number of doctoral degree holders per million people is increasing in Europe and the United States, while it decreased from 131 in 2008 to 119 in 2017 in the United States, Germany, and South Korea. It has fallen to less than half the level.

Regarding this, Akira Yoshino of Asahi Kasei, a major chemical manufacturer who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, points out that it is an important issue that the future career remains uncertain even after obtaining a doctorate.

Mr. Yoshino points out that in Western countries, getting a PhD gives you an advantage in finding employment in companies, but in Japan the treatment is almost the same.

After that, he said, "Isn't it necessary for companies to give preferential treatment and salary in consideration of their doctoral degree? How the industry treats those who have graduated from the doctoral course is a future issue." I will.

He also points out that young people are not able to devote themselves to research in the long term regarding the university environment.

Mr. Yoshino started researching the Nobel Prize-winning lithium-ion battery when he was 33 years old, and because he was able to sit down and continue one research, the result that will be evaluated in the world 30 years later will be evaluated. It is said that it was able to be put out.

Mr. Yoshino said, "University research is a pursuit of truth or a researcher's own curiosity, and I think it is absolutely necessary as one mission. In that sense, those who have completed the doctoral course have been in the doctoral course for 10 years. An environment where you can study with peace of mind is very important for Japan. "

Associate Professor Sakagami, University of Notre Dame, USA "No merit of doctoral degree in Japan"

Many Japanese researchers who have obtained a doctoral degree go to overseas research institutes if their abilities cannot be utilized in Japan.

Associate Professor Hirotaka Sakagami, who currently conducts research and classes at the Department of Aerospace Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame in the United States, has a PhD from Purdue University in the United States, but when he tries to get a job in Japan, his salary is determined by his age. It is said that the abilities gained in the process of obtaining a doctoral degree were not taken into consideration.

"If you get a PhD in the United States, your lifetime annual income will change. On the other hand, in my aerospace field, in Japan, even if you get a PhD and get a job, your salary will not change much and there is no merit." I was talking.

In addition, he said that in the United States, there is a system in which doctoral students in science are paid by the university, and he said, "Master's students are attracted to the environment where students have an extra three years of hardship like in Japan. Isn't it? "

Mr. Sakagami said, "I am concerned that if the number of students going on to the doctoral program continues to decrease, the soil for research will die. Young students who want to work on research, such as by improving treatment, will proceed to the doctoral program. It is necessary to create an easy environment. "

Student employment support service for doctoral and master's students in science

Under these circumstances, when a venture company started a employment support service that matches companies so that doctoral and master's students in science can evaluate their abilities, 30,000 people have registered and are attracting attention nationwide. I will.

This venture company in Tokyo started a service three years ago to match companies seeking human resources in science with doctoral and master's students.

It is used by 250 companies such as major companies and foreign-affiliated companies. For example, from the 30,000 students who registered to search for human resources with specific specialties required by companies such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology, so far The contents of the research and what kind of skills are useful in the field of the company are shown in an easy-to-understand manner, and the company sends a message to each student to lead to recruitment.

According to this venture company, from the perspective of students, even if they try to find a job at a company, they are overwhelmed by research and cannot find a job as they wish, or they find a job with few options such as university recommendations. It is said that there were many mismatches with companies, but this system means that about 300 people will find employment next year.

On the other hand, it is said that changes can be seen on the corporate side.

A foundation established by Nobel Prize-winning Yoshinori Ohsumi conducted a questionnaire survey of 11 cooperating companies, and found that many companies wanted to increase the hiring of doctoral students.

Regarding the hiring trends of these companies, Tomoaki Kamo, CEO of the venture company "POL" that provides services, said, "The era in which companies can fight only with the technical knowledge accumulated in their own company is over, and the knowledge and skills of the neighboring academic field are over. It is necessary to bring in human resources who have the skills. Therefore, there is a movement to hire doctors who have extremely specialized knowledge. "He said," If you are a doctor overseas, some companies will definitely evaluate it, and society However, since I am respected, I can proceed to the doctoral course without any worries. It is important for Japanese doctors to recognize and evaluate their values ​​in society, and I would like to create that trend. "