The shortage of incoming talent into satcom is well known and has been a recurring point of discussion at Satcoms Innovation Group (SIG) workshops in recent years. Of course, this issue isn’t just confined to the satellite industry but rather is a broader issue affecting STEM fields in general. However, alongside the skills shortage, the satcom industry is also facing another challenge, this time one that is specific to industry, that being that the skills and knowledge required by satcom is also changing. As we head toward an increasingly multi-orbit, multi-band environment alongside the transition to software-defined infrastructure and cloud-based networks, satcom now needs a different skill set to the one required a decade or so ago.
So what can we do to make satcom more accessible and appealing to students, and what do we need to do to ensure that talent coming into satcom has the required skills to support the industry? It’s clear that that the satcom industry can’t solve these challenges alone. We also need academic institutions to be part of the solution.
Not just an industry issue
As mentioned, the shortage of skilled talent in satcom isn’t happening in isolation. It’s an issue across technical and engineering-related sectors around the globe. According to some reports, almost half of businesses in Europe are struggling to recruit people with the right skills levels into technical and engineering-related professions. Although the reasons for this broad STEM skills shortage are complex and multifaceted, with satcom, part of the problem stems from the fact that students don’t always know it exists as a viable and rewarding career option. Another potential issue comes because there isn’t necessarily a clear route into the industry, in the same way as there is for some other professions.
The problem is complex and is tied to how education systems connect with industry needs. While some companies are making admirable efforts to partner with schools and universities, there can still at times be a disconnect between what students are taught and what the satcom industry actually needs and will need in the years to come. For employers in the satcom industry, it’s frustrating when talent with potentially transferable skills is not attracted to the industry, and equally frustrating when applying graduates lack the required knowledge and skills for the roles that need filling. On the flip side, academic institutions are perhaps also unsure of what industry expects from them, or how to bridge that knowledge gap.
The skills and competencies required in satcom are changing and the only way to keep pace is for industry and academia to work together more closely to build a shared understanding of the challenges and opportunities on both sides.
Building better bridges between academia and industry
We wanted to bring academia and industry together to discuss these complex challenges, to figure out how we can work together in a better way. With this in mind, SIG will be hosting a dedicated workshop bringing industry and academic institutions together on Thursday 4th September at the University of Birmingham.
We’ve decided not to have a fixed agenda as we usually do at SIG technical workshops, but instead, will have a forum for open, honest discussion. The workshop will give industry a chance to discuss with academic institutions both what’s missing in graduates entering the sector as well what can be done to encourage more graduates to embark on a career in satcom in the first place.
The workshop will also provide an excellent opportunity for academic institutions to get a better understanding of what the satcom industry needs in terms of skills. Alongside that, it’ll also be a chance to discuss what the satcom industry can do to support universities to demonstrate the opportunities available to graduates in the sector.
Bolstering satcom’s talent
We’ve seen just how effective collaborative action can be in areas like interference mitigation, and now that same level of partnership working and concerted effort needs to extend to talent development. This is not about finding a quick solution but rather about safeguarding the future of satcom in the long-term. And to do that, we need to make sure that the next generation of engineers and technical professionals see a place for themselves in satcom.
Whether you’re from the satcom industry or an academic institution offering STEM subjects, join us on 4th September in Birmingham and be part of the solution.