美國(guó)理工專業(yè)回暖

　　2005年攻讀科學(xué)與工程專業(yè)研究生的美國(guó)學(xué)生數(shù)量達(dá)到歷史新高，讓哀嘆美國(guó)人對(duì)科學(xué)不感興趣的決策者和企業(yè)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(guó)國(guó)家科學(xué)基金會(huì)(National Science Foundation)的最新調(diào)查顯示，入讀科學(xué)與工程研究生課程的美國(guó)公民和永久性居民人數(shù)增長(zhǎng)了2%，達(dá)到創(chuàng)紀(jì)錄的33.955萬(wàn)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(diào)查還顯示，繼前3年下降之后，今年外國(guó)學(xué)生的入學(xué)率首次增長(zhǎng)4%。不過(guò)，就讀這些學(xué)科的外國(guó)學(xué)生總數(shù)下降3%，為連續(xù)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(guó)科學(xué)促進(jìn)會(huì)(American Association for the Advancement of Science)研發(fā)預(yù)算及政策項(xiàng)目主管Kei Koizumi表示，此次調(diào)查的結(jié)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(shù)決策者表示，好消息是，攻讀科學(xué)與工程專業(yè)的美國(guó)人似乎越來(lái)越多，"他表示。"但外國(guó)學(xué)生數(shù)量下降，不管是因?yàn)閷?shí)際存在或人們感覺(jué)中的簽證問(wèn)題，還是因?yàn)閷W(xué)生發(fā)現(xiàn)在其它國(guó)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(guó)國(guó)務(wù)院對(duì)外國(guó)學(xué)生實(shí)施限制，此后，來(lái)自國(guó)際學(xué)生的申請(qǐng)數(shù)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(wù)的副總裁羅伯特o霍夫曼(Robert Hoffman)表示： "(美國(guó)的)大學(xué)院校能否招到全世界頂尖的人才，唯一最大的挑戰(zhàn)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(duì)招生工作來(lái)說(shuō)是個(gè)障礙。它所表達(dá)的意思是：你或許能在美國(guó)大學(xué)里獲得一流教育，但你畢業(yè)后可能無(wú)法在美國(guó)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."