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Engineering Education, Resources and Standards
News Release from: BOC
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 30 November 2006
Blue paper fires national skills
shortage debate
Redressing the national shortage of scientific and technical skills required by UK industry requires better communication between government, education and business.
Redressing the national shortage of scientific and technical skills required by UK industry requires better communication between government, education and business - so says a discussion paper launched by a group of leading industrial companies and educationalists The Industry and Education Partnership Forum Blue Paper, published by BOC is the result of debate at St James's Palace aimed at strengthening relationships between industry, government and those involved in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 16 Mar 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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The debate attracted 200 delegates all concerned by the falling number of STEM students pursuing careers in industry - the direct result of fewer pupils taking STEM courses and the closure of courses and faculties.
Government figures show a continued decline to the point where there are now an estimated 50,000 fewer students taking maths, physics and chemistry at tertiary level than there were in 1986.
Forum host and sponsor, BOC Director Gordon Brown said: "Given the dramatic decline in STEM students it is not surprising that we have a shortfall in the number of graduates entering industry".
"On top of this, world class educational institutions - the likes of Imperial College - produce well qualified potential scientists and engineers only to see them lured away to other professions or countries".
"The result is an ever-shrinking and imbalanced pool of talent so that forensic science, for example, attracts many more graduates than there are jobs while process engineering which is vital to our economy, cannot find graduates to fill places over the next few years".
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Said Brown: "Popular opinion has it that manufacturing is 'dead on its feet' but government statistics tell us it is still tremendously important to our communities and the UK economy - employing close to a quarter of our workforce and producing a quarter of our gross domestic product".
"To safeguard the future of manufacturing we urgently need to encourage young people to excel in STEM subjects and train as engineers and scientists so that they are equipped with the right skills and expertise needed for industry".
Every year UK industrial companies invest GBP 7 million in providing educational resources and more than GBP 23 million on workplace development and initiatives such as Young Apprentices.
That the return on investment is not as great as industry would expect is - the paper suggests - down to a host of related issues, including a lack of cohesion between policy and the activity of government, education institutions and business.
A myriad of individuals and organisations supply educational resources and links for industry but there is no strategic or national approach to ensure young people and those already in the work force have the necessary training to meet industry needs.
There is also a lack of engagement at primary and secondary level.
From the earliest age young people should be persuaded that STEM subjects are exciting, rewarding and vital to their futures.
There are few academic staff in science faculties with industry experience.
Strategic partnerships are needed between schools, universities and industry.
This principle needs to be strengthened.
Schools do not know what industry wants.
Industry needs to be more engaged with education and produce clear guidelines for schools so they are better able to respond to the real and practical needs of industry.
And there is little celebration of the success of scientific, technological and engineering innovation.
The BOC Blue Paper includes a list of key recommendations, top of which are: a government/industry/education round table focused on co-operation and STEM careers (in support of Government's STEM Strategy Group and STEM Advisory Forum); promotion of the STEM ambassador concept; better engagement between industry and Skills for Business and Sector Skills Councils (SSCs); the creation of a dynamic web portal funded by industry with contributions from government and education bodies.
This last recommendation, said Brown is the most achievable step in the short term, towards simplifying communications between STEM oriented industries, educationists and pupils.
"With a wealth of marketing and communications expertise UK industry is well positioned to create a simple and well managed web portal that would promote and endorse a wide range of resources and initiatives".
"It would allow those involved in education/industry dialogue to share ideas, best practice, and promote and reward success while providing a 'shop window' for teachers, parents and students alike".
The Blue Paper containing "concrete" recommendations from the Industry and Education Partnership Forum has been presented to the DfES and Secretary of State for Education.
Said Brown: "Everyone involved in the forum was aware of the danger of simply suggesting an ongoing 'talking shop' with no clear objective, muscle or funding".
"Instead, this paper has identified a communications led solution which can be realistically tackled, links industry with pupils - and importantly, helps to generate national interest in this most crucial of issues for UK industry".
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