美國理工專業回暖

　　2005年攻讀科學與工程專業研究生的美國學生數量達到歷史新高，讓哀嘆美國人對科學不感興趣的決策者和企業總裁們看到了一線希望。

　　The number of US students going to graduate school for science and engineering hit an all-time high in 2005, offering a glimmer of hope to policymakers and business chiefs who have lamented that Americans are not interested in science.

　　美國國家科學基金會(National Science Foundation)的最新調查顯示，入讀科學與工程研究生課程的美國公民和永久性居民人數增長了2%，達到創紀錄的33.955萬人。

　　A new survey conducted by the National Science Foundation shows that enrolment of US citizens and permanent residents in science and engineering graduate programmes increased 2 per cent, to a record 339,550.

　　調查還顯示，繼前3年下降之后，今年外國學生的入學率首次增長4%。不過，就讀這些學科的外國學生總數下降3%，為連續第二年下降。

　　The survey also showed a 4 per cent rise in first-time enrolments by foreign students, following three years of decline. However, total enrolment of foreign students in those subjects dropped 3 per cent - the second year in a row with a decline.

　　美國科學促進會(American Association for the Advancement of Science)研發預算及政策項目主管Kei Koizumi表示，此次調查的結果 "喜憂參半"。

　　Kei Koizumi, the director of the R &D budget and policy programme at the American Association for the Advancement of Science, called the survey's findings "mixed".

　　"多數決策者表示，好消息是，攻讀科學與工程專業的美國人似乎越來越多，"他表示。"但外國學生數量下降，不管是因為實際存在或人們感覺中的簽證問題，還是因為學生發現在其它國家讀書更具吸引力，這都(令人沮喪)。"

　　"The good news, according to most policymakers, is that it appears Americans are going into science and engineering in greater numbers," he said. "But the drop in foreign students - whether it's because of real or perceived visa problems, or because students find it more attractive to study in other nations - is not as [encouraging]."

　　9·11恐怖襲擊后，美國國務院對外國學生實施限制，此后，來自國際學生的申請數量有所下降。

　　Applications from international students fell after the State Department imposed restrictions on foreign students in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

　　軟件公司甲骨文(Oracle)主管政府及公共事務的副總裁羅伯特o霍夫曼(Robert Hoffman)表示： "(美國的)大學院校能否招到全世界頂尖的人才，唯一最大的挑戰在于我們的移民體系。"

　　"The single biggest challenge for colleges and universities being able to recruit top talent from around the world is our immigration system," said Robert Hoffman, the vice-president of government and public affairs at Oracle, the software company.

　　"該體系對招生工作來說是個障礙。它所表達的意思是：你或許能在美國大學里獲得一流教育，但你畢業后可能無法在美國公司里找到一份好工作。"

　　"The system is working as a barrier to recruitment. It's saying: you might be able to get a top-flight education at a US university but you might not be able to get a top-flight job at a US company after you graduate."

　　調查發現，工程專業的入讀學生總數下降2.5%，在很大程度上是因為外國學生數量的減少，但入讀數學和物理學專業的學生總數小幅上升。入讀上述三門學科的美國公民人數有所上升，但每門學科的學生增幅不足1%。

　　Total engineering enrolments fell by 2.5 per cent, largely because of a decline in foreign students, but total enrolments in mathematics and the physical sciences rose slightly, according to the survey. Enrolment of US citizens increased in all three categories but by less than 1 per cent in each.

　　商業圓桌會議(Business Roundtable)的教育及就業政策主管蘇珊o崔曼(Susan Traiman)表示，她感到擔憂的是，隨著英國和澳大利亞等其它國家紛紛提高自己在研究生教育方面的投資，并發起招募國內外優秀學生的攻勢，美國研究生院正失去其在吸引外國最優秀人才方面的優勢。

　　Susan Traiman, the director of education and workforce policy at the Business Roundtable, said she was concerned that US graduate schools were losing their edge in attracting the most talented foreign students, as other countries, such as the UK and Australia, boosted their investment in graduate education and embarked on campaigns to recruit top domestic and international students.

　　她表示： "這些數字似乎表明，目前頂尖人才有更多的選擇。"

　　"What these numbers seem to be saying is that top talent has many more options now," she said.

　　"如果沒有數量足夠的美國學生進入這些領域，同時如果沒有外國人才來填補這些空白，這將有損美國的創新能力--而這正是美國競爭力的根本所在。"

　　"If we don't have enough Americans going into these fields, and if we don't have the foreign talent to fill the gaps, it jeopardises US innovation - and that is the underpinning of American competitiveness."