STEM-ED Scotland is a partnership to champion world class education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
Who are we?
Supported by the Deans of Science & Engineering in Scotland, the STEM-ED partnership involves senior representatives from universities, industry, specialist teacher organisations, professional bodies and publicly funded agencies.
What is our role and purpose?
Drawing on the knowledge, interests and concerns of our partners, STEM-ED Scotland is uniquely well placed to :
- undertake projects aimed to improve the quality, relevance and effectiveness of education in STEM subjects
- provide a forum for dialogue among stakeholders in STEM education across Scotland, and to articulate and promote communally shared views on relevant issues and policies
- encourage approaches geared to increase interest and uptake in STEM education and employment
- contribute to the planning and development of national initiatives to enhance and enrich STEM education. We hold regular meetings of our Partners Forum and, informed by these discussions, endeavour to engage with the Scottish Government and its agencies, on relevant issues and planned developments
What have we done?
At the present time substantial reform of the entire school curriculum in Scotland is taking place. This is seen as a unique opportunity for change across the STEM subject areas, both during schooling and beyond. Through our past research projects, shown below, a clear and coherent picture of the necessary reforms has emerged
- the views of academic the concerns and needs of industry
- the interests and attitudes of current school pupils at mid secondary and upper primary. stage
We have helped to support the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence for schools and colleges through the three projects listed below.
- Connecting it up: towards a Route Map for STEM education in Scotland a STEM-ED Scotland collaborative project with the Association for Science Education, the Scottish Mathematical Council and the Scottish Technology Teachers Association, funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, looking to enhance skills and concept development over the age range 5 – 15
- Contributing towards cross -disciplinary enhancement of numeracy skills in the lower years of secondary: a collaborative project with Learning & Teaching Scotland, supporting initiatives in a number of secondary schools across Scotland .
Building a new educational framework to address the STEM skills gap: a fundamental review from a 21st century perspective. The project was funded by the Scottish Funding Council,
Work still continues on the implementation of the Skills Gap project through development and piloting of a new Access to STEM course as proposed in the project and in further development of the Route Map for STEM education.
Our Vision and Aims
Our Vision
Through achieving and sustaining world leading educational provision at all levels in STEM subjects, Scotland can be a front-line player in the global knowledge economy, adept in and at ease with applying science and technology to the benefit of its economic and social well-being. STEM-ED Scotland will serve to illuminate the path towards this end.
Our Aims
STEM-ED Scotland aims to:
- work constructively with the Scottish Government and its agencies to support school curriculum and delivery developments across STEM subjects
- research and review the views of the stakeholder interests it represents, encouraging cross-sectoral dialogue, and seeking to derive and then to represent widely shared views
- engage in analysis of stakeholder views on STEM education in further and higher education and to frame recommendations on the basis of such work
- research evidence on public attitudes to issues in science and technology, and comment on strategies to enhance informed public engagement
In relation to the school curriculum, STEM-ED Scotland stakeholders seek to promote provision that
- is consistent with the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence vision to develop successful learners, responsible citizens, confident individuals and effective contributors
- advances different STEM discipline strands in harmony and with mutual reinforcement
- engages pupil interest and active participation
- emphasises skills development and a broad understanding of major principles
- empowers individual teacher initiative in selecting relevant topics and approaches
- highlights the current relevance of STEM developments and applications
- explores issues of risk assessment and ethics posed by potential developments
- caters for pupils of different abilities and interests whilst minimising barriers to progression
- is designed to interest pupils of both genders
- is amenable to rolling change so as to remain up-to-date
- embraces enterprise, creativity and citizenship as core themes
- contributes to and take benefit from learning in non-STEM subjects, notably in relation to developing skills in literacy and logical argument
- uses assessment structures and strategies that focus attention and emphasis on all of the above
News and events
STEM-ED Scotland Meetings
Partners meetings are held approximately twice a year in the University of Glasgow. A typical meeting usually provides an opportunity for networking over lunch prior to the meeting proper .After introductions, current partners review activities in which they are involved and this is followed by reports on the progress of current projects.
If anyone is interested in the work of our group or of becoming a STEM-ED partner then please make contact either by phone or by email at the address below.
STEM-ED Partners Meetings in 2010: Notes
STEM-ED Partners Meeting 23rd June: Note
STEM-ED Partners Meeting 15th November
Papers produced at meeting:
Addressing the STEM Skills gap, post school
Events
At the recent Scottish Mathematical Council conference held at the University of Stirling on Saturday 3rd March 2012, Professor Alan Roach and Moira Finlayson presented a paper to one of the workshops. The title of the paper was Connecting it up: towards a Route Map for STEM education and was about a project carried out for STEM-Ed by Dr Elsa Ekevall. The presentation can be viewed by clicking on to the title of the document on the right hand panel
