STEM Policy and Practice News Autumn Statement: Cap on student numbers to be abolished

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1 Monthly Bulletin from the University of Birmingham STEM Education Centre DECEMBER 2013 Welcome to the December e-bulletin from the University of Birmingham s STEM Education Centre. It is designed to provide you with information about STEM - related events, resources, news and updates that may be of interest to you and your colleagues. STEM Policy and Practice News Autumn Statement: Cap on student numbers to be abolished The Chancellor George Osborne announced that 30,000 extra student places will be created in 2014, and the cap on the numbers of students England s universities can admit is to be abolished in He referred to the fiftieth anniversary of the Robbins Report, which said that courses of higher education should be available for all those who are qualified by ability and attainment to pursue them and who wish to do so. Access to higher education was a basic tenet of economic success in the global race, he said, adding that every year there were 60,000 young people who had achieved well at school or college but were prevented from going to university by an arbitrary cap. Mr Osborne said it would be financed by selling off more of the old student loan book to private companies allowing thousands more to achieve their potential. The Russell Group, which represents 24 of the UK s most selective universities, questioned whether quality would be maintained in such an expansion. Outside the Russell Group, the announcement was greeted with almost universal support from the sector. Universities minister David Willetts said: Removing the student numbers cap will free universities to recruit the students they want and give people far more choice over where to study.

2 Pisa tests: UK stagnates as Shanghai tops league table The UK is falling behind global rivals in international tests, failing to make the top 20 in maths, reading and science according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development s Pisa tests. The Programme for International Student Assessment (or Pisa) tests measure education standards in maths, reading and science and have become the most influential rankings in international education. Run every three years, tests are taken by more than 500,000 secondary school pupils in 65 countries and local administrations. In 2012, more than 12,000 pupils took the tests in the UK. The top places in the rankings are dominated by Asian school systems with Shanghai in China as the top education system, and Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan among the highest ranked across all subjects. The UK remains amongst the average, middle-ranking countries, in 26th place for maths and 23rd for reading, broadly similar to three years ago. In science, the UK has slipped downwards, from 16th to 21st place, in a downward trend for results in the subject. In a breakdown of the UK results, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are clustered around the average. Scotland has overtaken England in maths and reading, with England ahead in science tests. Northern Ireland is in third place for the three subjects. Wales was behind in all three subjects. Andreas Schleicher, who runs the tests, says the UK s performance has flat-lined and so far failed to improve as quickly as other countries, such as Poland and Vietnam, which are now ranked higher. However, there were also voices of caution about how these results should be interpreted. Prof Alan Smithers from the Centre for Education and Employment Research, University of Buckingham said there were many factors outside school that shaped test results. He said that the UK could boost its position by training students to take the tests, but that was not the same thing as improving the education system. The danger in the exaggerated importance that politicians attach to Pisa, is that implicitly they are pushing the world to a narrow and particular view of education. said Prof Smithers. Birmingham launches new Centre in Physical Sciences for Health The University of Birmingham is one of 24 UK universities to receive a share of a 350m Government funding scheme which will see over 3,500 postgraduate students in engineering and physical sciences trained at 70 new centres for doctoral training. The funding, targeted at areas vital to economic growth, has been allocated by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

3 In one of two Centres located at the University, the Sci-Phy-4-Health programme aims to train over 50 students from different scientific backgrounds, in a skilled programme combining chemistry, physics, engineering and computer science. The programme targets three of the UK s central healthcare challenges: trauma, cardiovascular disease and ageing. The Sci-Phy Centre will underpin UK competitiveness in biomedical technologies: an area of rapid growth reflecting the EPSRC s desire to support innovative research that connects to key industries and important technologies that which will aid innovation and growth in the UK. Q Step Centres won t cover statistical gaps, expert says Universities are not equipping social science students with the skills to make evidence-based decisions, and 15 specialist statistical training centres launched in October do not go far enough to address the problem. That is the view of John MacInnes, professor of sociology and Economic and Social Research Council strategic adviser on quantitative methods training at the University of Edinburgh. In 2012, the Economic and Social Research Council joined forces with HEFCE and the Nuffield Foundation to invite bids for centres of excellence in quantitative methods training, to be known as Q-Step Centres. The centres are charged with reforming the undergraduate curriculum and ensuring that departments pay more attention to methodology in teaching statistics. Research he conducted in 2009 found only marginal amounts of statistics in social science degree content. If the situation does not improve, he argued, society will have decision-makers unable to consider evidence properly. We have got lots of people in public life and in the private sector who are making decisions about risk and uncertainty, statistical decision, without even elementary training in statistical concepts, he said. Physics is booming but diversity and careers advice still lacking A report prepared for the Institute of Physics by YouthSight, specialists in youth and student research, finds that the introduction of 9,000 tuition fees has not dampened the enthusiasm of the majority of prospective students for physics which they regard as a prestigious, well-respected and fundamental subject. The research shows that students this year were more determined to study physics at university than students last year. However, it also found, however, that prospective students this year still felt there was a lack of careers advice available. It also identifies changes in this year s prospective physics intake in terms of gender, ethnicity and social class, where these groups stated that they were more likely to take action to mitigate higher fees by, for example, choosing a more applied/ vocational subject. Whilst welcoming the report, Dr Frances Saunders, the IOP s President, noted that women, non-white applicants and those from lower socio-economic grades are more likely to be deterred by fear of debt. physics already faces a very significant diversity challenge, and any factors likely to exacerbate the situation must be a real cause for concern. The full report is available here:

4 Research grant success rates rise with demand management The research councils demand management measures have been credited with driving the fourth successive annual rise in the overall success rate for grant applications, which now stands at 30 per cent. Overall rates have risen steadily from a low of 23 per cent in The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) introduced measures in 2010 which constrain repeatedly unsuccessful applicants to one bid in the 12 months after being singled out. Its success rate is 34 per cent and is now constraining applications from 16 researchers, compared with 115 when demand management was introduced. The value of its awards nearly doubled, but the number of applications rose by 52 per cent. A council spokesman said that the body had invited applications for a planned pulse of funding in Given that the EPSRC is the single biggest funder, this was the main reason for a 50 per cent rise in the total value of research council grants (to nearly 1.5 billion). The Economic and Social Research Council s success rate for responsive mode applications rose from 14 per cent in to 26 per cent in A spokeswoman said that this reflected the phasing-out of its small grants scheme and an increase in the amount allocated to responsive mode grants, as well as the demand management measures it introduced in She added that universities are taking demand management seriously and have introduced systematic sifting mechanisms. Tim Jones, pro vice-chancellor for research in science and medicine at the University of Warwick, said that demand management had become widely accepted and had eliminated the tail of really poor-quality proposals that used to exist. He said that success rates of about one in three represented an ideal balance between ensuring that only high-quality applications were funded and limiting the wasted effort that went into rejected bids. Apprenticeships still seen as poor relation to a degree A recently published study reveals the image of apprenticeships has improved among parents but is still fighting old prejudices. According to YouGov research commissioned by BAE Systems and the Royal Academy of Engineering, almost half (46 per cent) of over 2,000 British parents of children aged surveyed would encourage their offspring to take an apprenticeship. But more than one in 10 still maintain that apprenticeships are a second best route to a career after a degree. Almost a third of those surveyed stated that they see apprenticeships as a viable option for their children, admitting that five years ago it was not something they would have ever considered. Sir John Parker, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering said: If the UK s industrial strategy is to be successful in its delivery, we will need a much bigger push for apprenticeships and other vocational pathways to engineering careers, so I am delighted to see that perceptions are changing for the better. Apprenticeships will not only play an important role in helping to meet the increasing demand for engineers and technicians, but I know from first-hand experience that apprenticeships give young people a brilliant start to their engineering careers. A common concern, shared by almost half of parents surveyed is the amount of student debt that young people can accrue - but they also acknowledged it doesn t put them off persuading their children to go to university. Although positive news for apprenticeships, some old prejudices still remain, particularly amongst a small percentage of higher-earning households that see apprenticeships as good options but not suitable for their children.

5 Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise, Matthew Hancock MP, said: These figures are encouraging to see. I want choosing to go to university or beginning an apprenticeship to become the new norm for young people, and I m pleased to see that attitudes are changing. I am looking forward to delivering a reformed system that works even better for employers as well as learners. British Science Festival Saturday 6th Thursday 11th September 2014, University of Birmingham In September 2014, the University of Birmingham plays host to the British Science Festival - one of the UK s most established and respected public celebrations of science, engineering and technology. The programme will present the very latest in scientific research, explore its impact on our lives and allow the public to talk directly to those doing the research. It attracts a diverse audience and a great amount of media attention. The University has been given 20 programme slots to showcase our world-leading research within the main scientific programme. All proposals from the University should be submitted directly to Claire Doggett on c.j.doggett@bham.ac.uk by 15 January Information on how to do this can be found on Learn more: or contact Claire Doggett, British Science Festival Manager Birmingham 2014 at c.j.doggett@bham.ac.uk Proposals are also sought for the Young People s Programme. In 2014 it will focus on highlighting careers pathways and opportunities available to those who study science. The focus will be on young people aged 14+ (including those in vocational training). For this programme you could propose: A workshop giving students an opportunity to experience something they wouldn t in the classroom A science show An inspirational speaker An activity highlighting careers opportunities A drop-in, interactive activity Follow this link to find out more about submitting your proposal for the Young People s Programme The deadline for submitting your proposal is 30 January 2014.

6 Publications and Resources HEA Flexible Learning: New pedagogical ideas in higher education The Higher Education Academy has, as part of its Flexible Pedagogies research series, published a report focusing on new pedagogical ideas in HE. It explores six new ideas chosen for their potential to shape key attributes in HE graduates and to inform future practice across the HE curriculum. The report, launched at the HEA s second Research and Policy seminars/webinars Flexible Pedagogies: Higher Education for the future by Professor Daniella Tilbury and Dr Alex Ryan (University of Gloucestershire), is available here: A video of the event is available here: and the presentation slides are available here: National Chemical Database Service The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), in partnership with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Council (EPSRC), are developing a data store containing s a suite of commercial databases and resources which all UK academic institutions can eligible access. Access will initially be authenticated on institutional IP address (a username and password can be obtained if this is not possible). For further information, visit here: Defining and developing your approach to employability: A framework for higher education institutions A key recommendation from a Teaching and Learning Summit on Employability held in 2012, and delivered by the HEA and the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE), was for the development of a framework to support HEIs in embedding employability. The framework provides a process for reflecting on and addressing employability provision in a systematic manner and seeks to stimulate and facilitate discussion amongst those addressing this challenge and engaging colleagues and stakeholders with this process. The framework document is available here: Funding Opportunities Research Funding: The Impact of the Shifting HEA Landscape on Learning and Teaching The HEA is inviting research proposals that provide insights into the impact and implications of the shifting HE landscape for learning and teaching and the student experience in HE. The deadline for submitting proposals of up to 20, 000 is Friday 10 January Full details of the call and information about how to apply are available here:

7 Professor Sir Ron Cooke International Scholarship Scheme Applications are invited for the Professor Sir Ron Cooke International Scholarship Scheme. The scheme supports individuals in the sector to undertake specific investigations outside of the UK to explore innovative examples of teaching excellence and learning and teaching policies and bring these back for testing and dissemination within the UK. The deadline for submissions is Monday 20 January Teaching Development Grants Applications are currently being invited for the HEA Teaching Development Grants Collaborative Scheme. The scheme invites proposals from two or more departments (or groupings) within or between HEIs for work which supports the enhancement of teaching and learning. Bids may request funds of up to 60,000. Full details of the scheme are available at the The deadline for receipt of submissions is Friday 24 January Events REMINDER: Association of Science Education Annual Conference 2014 University of Birmingham, 8 11 January 2014 The University of Birmingham is pleased to be hosting the ASE Annual Conference 2014, one of the largest science education continuing professional development events in the world. It takes place from Wednesday 8th January to Saturday 11th January The Frontier Science lectures are a key feature of this event with a series of 25 lectures and presentations from University colleagues on cutting edge developments within, or applications of, university-level disciplinary research. University of Birmingham staff can attend the conference for free. To do so, staff will need to sign-up at the registration desk during the conference (Great Hall, Aston Webb Building) and show their staff ID card. Further details are available here: HEA STEM: Practices in peer support exploring alternative approaches to enhance the student experience Loughborough University, Wednesday 22 January 2014 This event will explores some of the ways in which, as facilitators and/or as participants in peer support schemes, students can enable other students, as well as themselves, in terms of supporting: 1. their transition to university; 2. their learning within the classroom;

8 and/or 3. their preparations for the workplace. Further details of this event are available here: HEA STEM (Biological Sciences): Let s Talk : Supporting international postgraduate students in the biosciences University of Bath, Monday 27 January 2014 The event is designed to work in partnership with international postgraduate students (IPGS) to explore and challenge some of the discipline-specific practices in transition and research skills and supervision in the biosciences. A valuable feature of the event will be the shared platform with bioscience IPGS, who will directly contribute to the discussions and debate, and will provide an opportunity for participants to hear first- hand their views and experience. Further details of this event are available here: CETL-MSOR 2014 Conference dates announced The next CETL-MSOR Conference will be held at Cardiff University on 8th and 9th September Further details will be published on the sigma Network website: Sharing Information to Support STEM Educational Enhancement: If you have any opportunities or information relating to STEM Education activity that you would like to share with colleagues in the University through our monthly e-bulletin, please contact Daryl Davies with details. And finally: The STEM Education Centre would like to take this opportunity to offer our best wishes from the festive season. If you have received our e-bulletin from a colleague and wish to be added to the circulation list or alternatively wish to be removed from it, please contact Daryl Davies. Deadline for contributions for next month s newsletter is 10 January Contributions should be sent to d.r.davies@bham.ac.uk