Students play a key role in INESC TEC’s activities. Our significant capacity to host master’s degree theses has allowed our advisors – whether they’re teachers or employees – to explore new ideas and test innovative approaches – contributing to our research and development work quite positively. Many of these works lead to scientific publications, and we’ve often witnessed the recognition of the theses developed here: awards granted by companies or business associations, and nomination as “best papers” at scientific conferences. One of the reasons is the integration of students in our research teams, which allows them to access crucial resources to carry out their work and provides them a working environment that encourages them to acquire vital skills to their professional success.
These master’s degree students are also a great recruitment pool for the PhD students we welcome. PhD degrees are clearly the vehicle to the production of our knowledge. These students are the incremental factor of the activities carried out by the INESC TEC researchers who guide them. They also have access to our infrastructures – laboratory resources, experienced and dynamic research teams, support services, etc – allowing them to perform high-quality work. Whether they are financed by INESC TEC projects underway or by external entities (mainly FCT), the overwhelming majority of said students focuses on topics deeply associated with our endeavours – which also allows them to complement their training.
This flow of students has been ensured by the great recruitment efforts that our researchers have carried out, either individually or collectively (within the scope of their Centres). It has been a quite successful undertaking; it is in everyone’s interest, and we all benefit from it, both individually and as an institution.
But the times are also quite challenging. One of the main challenges was the end of more comprehensive engineering degrees at universities, replaced by three-year degrees followed by a master’s degree (as was already the case at polytechnic institutions). Another is the establishment of tech multinationals in the vicinities, which are hotbeds that attract many students who explore many of our areas of application. In addition, it’s also worth mentioning the increasing promotion of PhDs in a non-exclusive academia environments. Another aspect is the reduced number of students enrolled in higher education educations – which, by the end of the decade, will start to become obvious. Finally, the increasing shift of younger graduates to other places, where they can work remotely.
If we don’t act, all these challenges – and certainly, many others – will surely affect our hiring capacity. But our ability to anticipate and adapt to new realities will make us perceive these challenges as opportunities.
We must foster a greater interest in science, research, and technology among the younger populations. We must also engage with students from the get-go, involving them in research initiatives at an early stage. INESC TEC must also be able to establish even more partnerships with big tech companies. We must also overcome prejudices and, without disregarding quality and independence, find useful ways to guide PhD in new realities, fostering possibilities to expand our recruitment pool. In fact – we must expand our recruitment pool. It’s important to be creative, namely in the value propositions we provide.
And there are many good examples of what we can provide. We host researchers who already develop activities with high school students. Very recently, some of our Centres have already managed to host many undergraduate internships. I could also mention our cooperation with large tech companies. And PhD initiatives at many businesses. We also recruit international PhD students. Finally, we are currently promoting a four-day workweek pilot.
Basically, what we must to do is already being done! We just need to share more of these experiences and broaden their scope. This will turn challenges into opportunities and better prepare us for the challenges ahead.
Aníbal Matos (Member of the Board of Directors)
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