Computer Scientists Leave Scotland
Why Do So Many Scottish PhD Computer Scientists Leave The Country?
This article discusses why so many PhD computer scientists leave Scotland after they are qualified.
In 2002/03, over a third of Scotland's PhD graduates decided to leave (Graduate Prospects, DLHE, 2002/03. Copyright HESA 2004). Why?
To qualify with a PhD in Scotland, a novel contribution to human knowledge has to be made. This involves a full-time programme of self-directed research lasting three or four years which is performed under the supervision of an expert in the student's chosen area. Once qualified, someone with a PhD will be trained to:
- Be capable of performing scientific research, identifying opportunities and delivering solutions
- Have a leading understanding of their area of expertise and related areas
- Have advanced analytical and technology skills
- Communicate their work at the highest level, orally and in writing
- Team lead, mentor and transfer their knowledge to others
A newly-qualified PhD will have spent their time working at the very front of their subject and will have travelled widely to present their work to their peers. They will have gained a taste for challenging work that lets them collaborate with like-minded individuals. Those with Computer Science PhDs will have additional advanced skills such as the design and implementation of complex computer systems.
Scottish universities conduct excellent research work. However, they are less good at commercialising that research. One reason for this is that academics have no incentive to do so; their promotion requires them to gain research grants, publish their work and supervise students. This approach results in a lack of companies doing the kinds of work someone with a PhD would find challenging.
Most businesses in Scotland are ignorant of how a PhD differs from other kinds of degree qualification. This reduces the demand for such people. Many hiring managers and human resource departments see a PhD as a nice-to-have, optional extra. The situation is made worse because Scotland has a lack of venture capital which results in a shortage of the innovative businesses that could take advantage of the PhD-educated population. Having had experience of working in the US (for Sun Microsystems and one of Compaq's research labs), their approach is to recruit smart, capable people and find them a job. The Scottish approach is to fit people to a job. As there are very few commercial jobs that require a PhD, very few PhDs are recruited.
The Scottish government works hard to bring employers to Scotland that can take advantage of the country's high-quality university graduates. The investment banking sector employs 1,000s of people in Scotland and so is important to its economic future; however, these jobs are not research-based which is traditionally a skill required in London where PhD-qualified candidates are actively targeted. The types of technology jobs that are offered by the investment banks in Scotland do not require a PhD-level candidate so these banks (and banks in general) do not think to seek them out.
For those with Computing Science-based PhDs, Scotland has no technology sector which conducts research and development (R&D). Labs such as Microsoft's and Hewlett Packard's are based in England and IBM and Google both have a significant presence in Ireland and Switzerland. Amazon, Inc. does have a small presence just outside Edinburgh, but they are focused on development. A lack of such labs gives the suitably qualified Scottish PhD graduate an obvious choice: leave Scotland. R&D labs in other parts of the world pay good salaries, they value PhD-educated candidates and they provide challenging and interesting work.
Newly qualified Computer Science PhDs in Scotland are faced with the prospect of working at a company that neither understands them nor really needs them. Is it any wonder that so many of us decide to leave?
