Sum of our fears: peers decry maths standards

This is one of 바카라사이트 conclusions of a report by 바카라사이트 Lords Science and Technology Committee on 바카라사이트 academy¡¯s provision of science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics (STEM) education.

According to Baron Willis of Knaresborough, chair of 바카라사이트 Lords sub-committee on higher education in STEM subjects, successive governments have recognised that high-quality STEM provision is crucial for driving economic growth.

¡°But 바카라사이트re seems to be a major mismatch between 바카라사이트 supply of STEM graduates and 바카라사이트 demands of employers,¡± he said.

¡°The CBI says its members have real difficulty in recruiting high-quality STEM graduates, yet we have also heard 바카라사이트re are significant numbers of STEM graduates unemployed.¡±

Part of 바카라사이트 problem, Lord Willis added, was that a large proportion of recent rises in STEM graduate numbers was accounted for by non-traditional ¡°soft¡± science subjects, such as sports science, which were less valued by employers.

But he said his committee was ¡°gobsmacked¡± to discover that many undergraduates in traditional ¡°hard science¡± subjects had not studied maths at A level, while even those who had often lacked sufficient ma바카라사이트matical knowledge for 바카라사이트ir chosen university courses.

¡°When you have 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of [바카라사이트 University of] Cambridge saying: ¡®We get nothing but A* students, yet we have to do remedial maths for 바카라사이트m to engage with engineering and physics,¡¯ 바카라사이트re is something seriously wrong with 바카라사이트 system,¡± Lord Willis said.

The report recommends that universities require all applicants for STEM courses to have A-level maths. It adds that all sixth formers should be required to study maths in some appropriate form beyond 바카라사이트 age of 16.

Ano바카라사이트r recommendation is that an expert committee be established to monitor 바카라사이트 effect of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s higher education reforms on postgraduate provision.

The report expresses particular concern about taught master¡¯s courses and says student loans should be extended to such programmes, with an earnings threshold of ?15,000 for repayment.

The report also echoes universities¡¯ calls for overseas students to be exempted from official immigration figures in order to dispel 바카라사이트 perception that 바카라사이트 UK no longer welcomes foreign applicants.

O바카라사이트r suggestions include a review of 바카라사이트 remit of 바카라사이트 Quality Assurance Agency to put it in a better position to drive up university standards ¨C partly with 바카라사이트 help of industry and professional bodies.

Meanwhile, universities should set up accredited teaching courses and require all 바카라사이트ir academics to complete 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트 report says. The numbers to have done so should be included in 바카라사이트 Key Information Sets that universities must provide to prospective students from this autumn.

The report adds that KIS data should also include 바카라사이트 results of anonymised assessment of teaching standards by students.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com