December 2018
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
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The conference examined the next steps for improving STEM delivery at university - looking at widening participation, innovation and best practice, and the potential impact of new funding and government policy initiatives.
Delegates discussed strategies for widening participation, and attracting students to shortage subjects and progression to graduate study, drawing on case studies of university and college outreach work focused on growing the number of female students and those from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds. Speakers emphasised the need for not only encouraging diverse intakes of STEM students, but also providing for non-traditional routes into STEM and varied employment opportunities with competitive pay.
Attendees also discussed priorities for improving graduate employability and career development, and tackling persistent skills gaps in the context of the focus by government and funding agencies on the role of STEM in the UK economy. Delegates weighed up a number of strategies including industry engagement, exposure to social issues in STEM curricula, renewed emphasis on basic manipulation skills and integrating soft skills into courses, assessing how far these strategies improved the employability of graduates.
Further sessions looked at innovation in the design and delivery of STEM, including current trends in engineering and science education in universities as well as developing facilities and keeping the curriculum up-to-date.
