INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES GRADUATES

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INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
GRADUATES

• Lis Goodwin
• Consultant

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REASONS

• HEFCE
• Promotion and provision of the opportunity for HE
  to everyone who can benefit from it
• Initiative on STEM subjects strategically
  important but vulnerable subjects

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HEFCE

• Money given already to
• Engineering
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Now we hope
• Mathematics
• Decision June 8 2006

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STEERING COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT BID

• Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications
  (IMA)
• London Mathematical Society (LMS)
• Royal Statistical Society (RSS)
• Heads of Departments of Mathematical Sciences in
  the UK (HODOMS)
• Higher Education Academy Mathematics, Statistics
  and Operational Research (MSOR) Network.

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STEERING COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT BID

• In addition representatives from
• Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education
  (ACME)
• Joint Mathematical Council (JMC)
• Further Education (FE) Sector
• Widening Participation Directorate at HEFCE.
• Two consultants Lis Goodwin, Diane Crann

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PROPOSED PROJECT

• Three year project starting in August 2006 if
  HEFCE approval given in June
• Budget approx 3.9m
• Project leaders MSOR Network at Birmingham

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AIMS

• The overall aims of the project are
• To widen participation within the mathematical
  sciences from groups of learners who have not
  previously been well represented in Higher
  Education.
• To increase the supply of mathematical science
  graduates in England so that the demands of
  industry, commerce and education might be better
  met.

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OBJECTIVES

• Improve understanding of the wide-ranging
  applicability of mathematics and the breadth of
  career opportunities open to mathematical
  sciences graduates.
• Help school and college students to understand
  the purpose of mathematical study, to enjoy
  mathematics, to be confident about meeting
  challenges in the subject, to realise their
  potential in mathematics and to raise their
  aspirations about further study of mathematics.

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OBJECTIVES

• Contribute to the development of teachers
  enjoyment, confidence and knowledge of
  mathematics and its applications so that they can
  help stimulate interest in further study of
  mathematics in their students.
• Increase the scope of the mathematics curriculum
  for HE nationally in order to allow real choices
  for a wide range of students.

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BACKGROUND

• Smith report
• A level Maths entries dropping
• HE Maths entries dropping
• NFER report 25 of Maths classes taught by
  non-specialists
• Gender and age imbalance
• Certain ethnic groups are under-represented
• International concern
• QCASchool students unaware of career options

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DELIVERY OF PROPOSED PROJECT

• Careers theme Promotion of information about the
  wide-ranging relevance and applicability of
  mathematics and the breadth of career
  opportunities open to mathematical sciences
  graduates.
• Student theme Enrichment activities, aimed
  directly at students to encourage them to raise
  their aspirations and attainment levels in the
  mathematical sciences and to consider the study
  of mathematical sciences in Higher Education.

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DELIVERY OF PROPOSED PROJECT

• Teaching theme Support for mathematics teachers
  to enable them to raise the aspirations and the
  attainment level of their students.
• HE Curriculum theme Development of the Higher
  Education curriculum in the mathematical sciences
  including teaching, learning, assessment and
  support methods to ensure that it is suited to a
  wide range of students.

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ACTIVITIES PROPOSED

• Careers theme
• Development of careers materials.
• Extensive development of careers website.
• Disseminate expertise concerning
  mathematically-related careers to Connexions.
• Courses to increase careers awareness for
  teachers and careers advisors.
• Localised events and regional careers fairs to
  enhance student careers awareness.
• In this context careers means careers open to
  graduates from the mathematical sciences.

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ACTIVITIES PROPOSED

• Student theme
• Student ambassador scheme.
• School-based events to enrich and enhance the
  student experience.
• Industrial, professional and academic speakers to
  promote applications of mathematics.
• Regional mathematics workshops hosted by HEIs.

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ACTIVITIES PROPOSED

• Teaching theme
• Evaluation of resources to aid the transition to
  HE.
• Collaboration with the NCETM as subject
  professionals.
• Enrichment opportunities for teachers, including
  residential summer schools.

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ACTIVITIES PROPOSED

• HE Curriculum development theme
• Improve alignment of HE courses with regional or
  national economic needs.
• Review teaching and learning and assessment
  methods, especially in the first year.
• Review support methods.
• Determine appropriate access provision.

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LOCATION

• Three Aimhigher regions
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire and Humberside
• London
• Roll out nationally after three years

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LOCATION

• Lead HE institutions involved
• University of Birmingham
• Coventry University
• University of Leeds
• Sheffield Hallam University
• Queen Mary, University of London
• Institute of Education, London
• Open University

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Other HEIs

• We hope that all HEIs offering mathematical
  science courses will benefit from the work done
  if the project is approved.
• The support of HODOMs is helpful to the project
• After the first phase we hope this can bbe
  repeated in other locations

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SUPPORT

• University of Bath Department of Mathematical
  Sciences
• University of Bristol Department of Engineering
  Mathematics
• University of Brunel School of Info Systems,
  Computing and Mathematics
• University of Durham Department of Mathematical
  Sciences
• University of Greenwich Department of
  Mathematical Sciences
• Hatfield University
• University of Leicester Department of Mathematics

• University of Liverpool Department of
  Mathematical Sciences
• University of Loughborough School of Mathematics
• University of Newcastle School of Mechanical and
  Systems Engineering
• University of Nottingham school of Mathematical
  Sciences
• Oxford Brookes University
• University of Reading Department of Mathematics
• University of Warwick Department of Mathematics
• University of Paisley

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SUPPORT

• If you are interested in adding the support of
  your Department please E mail
• lisgoodwin_at_btinternet.com

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PEOPLE

• Project Manager based in Birmingham
• In each area
• a Careers-Coordinator to work primarily on the
  Careers theme
• a Subject-Coordinator to work primarily on the
  student and teaching themes
• a Curriculum Developer (0.5FTE) to work
  primarily on HE Curriculum Development theme
• an Administrator to support activity in each
  region.

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PROPOSED OUTCOMES

• More HE students within the mathematical sciences
  from WP background
• More students from WP background enrolled upon HE
  courses with a significant mathematical component
  
• Change in the perception of mathematics amongst
  school students

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PROPOSED OUTCOMES

• Greater awareness and understanding of the
  applications and opportunities offered by study
  of the mathematical sciences

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PROPOSED OUTCOMES

• Improved understanding of the pathways available
  for students who wish to study the mathematical
  sciences in HE.
• Understanding among HEIs who offer mathematical
  sciences of the process of change to encourage
  wider participation

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EMPLOYER SUPPORT

• Rolls Royce PLC
• Qinetiq
• DSTL
• Price Waterhouse Coopers
• Thales
• GCHQ
• We will involve SETNETS and SETPOINTS, SEMTA and
  HEI alumni

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WAY FORWARD

• Proposed project goes to HEFCE On April 30
• HEFCE meeting June 8
• Earliest start date if approved August 1
• Work in schools would start January 2007
• We will let you know!