Kids, tech is cool

Society is facing an approaching global talent shortage as the job market struggles to keep up with the ever-increasing prevalence of technology. Tech companies like ASML play an important role in promoting interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) among school-aged children, the workforce of the future.

“We’re All Nerds Now,” reads a《纽约时报》文章2014年的头条新闻。“怪胎文化与主流文化之间的界限从未如此多，”他们继续说道。今天当然仍然如此，也许更是如此。被认为在社会上尴尬甚至劣等的日子已经结束。坦率地说，成为书呆子很酷。

Combatting talent shortages

Despite this shift in popular culture (and probably also because of it), tech companies are struggling to find talent. Recent研究conducted by global organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry predicts that a global talent shortage could threaten business growth around the world. Their Global Talent Crunch study estimates that technological advancement across all sectors of the economy could be hindered by an acute global labor shortage of 4.3 million TMT (technology, media, and telecommunications) workers by 2030. Interestingly, they also predict that manufacturing will also face a talent deficit crisis of 7.9 million workers globally by 2030.

全球各国政府正在促进STEM教育，以弥补这种技能短缺。但是，政府并不是促进STEM的唯一实体。科技公司在影响社会和政府对科学和技术的态度方面发挥了重要作用。万博manbetx官网登录

在ASML的荷兰祖国，公司正在与学校和政府组织合作，以增加年轻技术专家的库，这是所谓的“ Technology PACT 2020”。万博manbetx官网登录这是一项急需的努力：马斯特里赫特大学商学院经济学学院的教育与劳动力市场研究中心（ROA）预计荷兰劳动力市场中30,000名技术人员的年份短缺（荷兰语中的链接）。

ASML首席战略官Frits Van Hout说：“技术和工业领域的工作实际上很有趣。”“我们喜欢我们的工作，我们为此感到自豪，我们喜欢与他人分享对技术的自豪感。”万博manbetx官网登录

Tech really is cool. Gone are the days of the reclusive ‘mad scientist’ – instead we see the rise of tech ‘heroes’ like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. People everywhere are looking to technology for answers to the world’s challenges.

“您想对世界产生积极影响吗？技术工作，”弗里万博manbetx官网登录特说。“万博manbetx官网登录技术正在应对世界上一些最艰巨的挑战。以能量为例：除非我们想在未来的十分之一的能量中生存，否则我们最好找到一种更干净的生产方式。技术是实万博manbetx官网登录现它的关键。这很有趣又令人兴奋。这实现了一个目标。”

她继续说：“ ASML员工因成为生日聚会'Killjoys'而臭名昭著，因为当人们自我介绍并问他们做什么时，他们会得到很长的技术解释作为回应。教学环境为他们提供了与真正感兴趣的人分享自己的工作的机会。”

一个这样的员工大使是弗洛里安·布鲁伊斯deep ultraviolet lithography machines) at our headquarters in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. He particularly likes giving guest lectures at high schools, talking in-depth about the kind of puzzles he gets to solve at work. “I like the high-tech aspect of my job, and I think more people would like that if they knew more about what it’s like working in a company like ASML,” he says.

“I think it’s wonderful to see someone who’s so excited about how something works that they want to tell others about it.”

A long-term investment

总体而言，通过STEM促销团队和员工大使的努力，ASML每年在荷兰每年约10,000名儿童。我们努力的目的不是商业，尽管有更大的人才库可以从中汲取更多的好处。“孩子不是我们的客户，”莫妮克解释说。“这并不是说他们中的一个可以购买我们的一台机器，然后骑自行车回家。通过STEM促销，我们将投资于我们的长期未来以及运营的行业的未来。”

The schools are grateful for this support. “To inspire and innovate in education, I believe it’s necessary to look for opportunities that enrich education for students,” says Anne Voorn, manager at Sondervick High School in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. “Through the ASML Ambassadors program, expertise is shared and education is enhanced for our students.” The students visit the ASML campus and participate in workshops, and the teachers keep in direct contact with some of the ASML Ambassadors. ASML’s CEO Peter Wennink is also a much-appreciated guest teacher at the school.

It’s our collective responsibility to tell others about the fascinating and astonishing world of technology. As one of the world’s leading high-tech companies, we’ve assumed our part of this responsibility. We hope to motivate as many students as we can to choose tech, where the cool kids rule.