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Education key topics

Addressing key topics within the education and skills sector.

Redressing the skills shortages in the engineering and technology sector must start by addressing problems in the education system.

Increase the supply of appropriately subject-qualified and trained teachers

  • We need more science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) qualified and trained lecturers and teachers at all levels of our education system.
  • Confidence and enthusiasm are essential to teaching, and knowledge and understanding contribute heavily to this.  Qualifications are a key indicator as to whether this knowledge is there – although not the only indicator; we believe flexibility in teacher training courses is vital.
  • Teachers and lecturers must be given opportunities to train and develop and more STEM qualified teachers must be recruited.

Improve resources and facilities

  • Out of date resources and facilities put teachers and lecturers at a disadvantage from the start.  Students can be easily switched off to science at a very early age, and the learning (and experimenting) environment is a key factor in this.
  • STEM in particular needs modern facilities and exciting and up to date resources must be available for all, from primary to FE and HE.

Improve the image of science, technology and electronics

  • This is extremely important, but there is no quick fix.  We must all do more to emphasis the creativity and opportunity STEM offers.  A unified, well funded, approach is needed to really make a difference.  Support from across the “STEM Community” is essential.

Other education and skills issues

 

14-19 (specialised) diplomas

  • To be introduced from 2008 onwards, there will be 14 different qualifications including engineering, construction and the built environment, information technology and manufacturing.  There may also be a science diploma, but this has yet to be agreed.
  • Levels 1 and 2 will be aimed at 14-16 years old, and will be the broad equivalent to 5 GCSEs.  Level 3 will be aimed at 16-19 year olds and will be equivalent to A levels.  Level 3 should be suitable for university entry, although additional modules (particularly mathematics) may be required.
  • These diplomas are not what we called for but we believe a poor implementation and negative student experience would seriously harm engineering.  Therefore we have supported fully their development and worked closely with the sector skills councils on content and delivery.

Higher education teaching funding

  • The unit of resource (UoR) for engineering has been reduced in the past years and this is having a detrimental effect on the resources and funding available for teaching.
  • The IET has called for the UoR to be restored – even if this meant a temporary cap on the number of student places.

Skills survey

  • The IET carries out an annual survey of businesses to gauge the state of skills in the engineering and technology sector.
  • In 2006 and 2007 significant shortages, particularly of graduates, have been reported.
PDF Engineering and technology skills and demand in industry 2007 survey (165 k) Updated July 2007
PDF Engineering and technology skills and demand in industry 2006 survey (98 k) Updated May 2006

 

Education Briefing 

Our education briefing (May 2006) outlines some of the measures we believe are vital if we are to encourage more young people into these areas.

PDF Education brief (62 k) Updated April 2007

 

Studying STEM: what are the barriers?

As part of our activities supporting a Science Forum working party, the IET commissioned a literature review to identify the key barriers to students continuing with the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Five key barriers were identified:

  • need for quality teaching
  • perceived difficulty of STEM subjects
  • problems with transition from primary to secondary school
  • negative views about STEM and STEM success
  • perceptions about opportunities and careers in STEM
PDF Studying Stem: what are the barriers? (383 k) Updated February 2008