Achieving a quantum smart workforce

Abstract

Interest in building dedicated quantum information science and engineering (QISE) education programs has greatly expanded in recent years. These programs are inherently convergent, complex, often resource intensive and likely require collaboration with a broad variety of stakeholders. In order to address this combination of challenges, we have captured ideas from many members in the community. This manuscript not only addresses policy makers and funding agencies (both public and private and from the regional to the international level) but also contains needs identified by industry leaders and discusses the difficulties inherent in creating an inclusive QISE curriculum. We report on the status of eighteen post-secondary education programs in QISE and provide guidance for building new programs. Lastly, we encourage the development of a comprehensive strategic plan for quantum education and workforce development as a means to make the most of the ongoing substantial investments being made in QISE.

An Overview of Quantum Information Science Courses at US Institutions

“…When looking at the jobs available in the QIS industry, Fox et al report that more than half of the companies with QIS divisions surveyed have at least one employee, with at most, a Bachelor's degree (in either engineering, physics, or computer science) [4]. As QIS companies grow and QIS technologies continue to evolve, it is expected that the number of positions available that only require a Bachelor's degree will increase [5]. This suggests that Bachelor's only programs should not be neglected in the development of quality QIS education.…”

“…In response to these efforts, there has been a growing number of proposed QIS programs throughout the country, both at the graduate and undergraduate level [5]. There are also some national efforts to organize resources for QIS instruction [6] and to bring educators together [7][8][9][10]; however, most educators creating courses and programs are undertaking parallel efforts with the goal of bringing QIS education to a broader audience.…”

Catalyzing the quantum leap

“…Scientists and engineers develop adaptability by regularly interfacing with colleagues from different lanes. For example, researchers at universities and national labs collaborating regularly develop an appreciation for the capabilities and career paths in each type of institution, while conversations between researchers and industry firms can grant the former a high level perspective on which applications have market demand and the latter a low level perspective on how mature the technology is and where the scientific challenges lie [18]. A workforce that has been trained to have these different perspectives will be more fluid, moving more easily between different actors in the innovation ecosystem and thus facilitating the diffusion of ideas and technical advances.…”

Development of an Undergraduate Quantum Engineering Degree

“…This calls for a new generation of trained engineers -expert across both traditional engineering offerings and quantum technology. Within this background, the demand for quantum engineering degrees is now palpable and several authoritative papers on the subject of how universities can best plan for the new undergraduate quantum engineering degree have recently appeared in the literature [12]- [15].…”