Welcome to the second 2007 edition of the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) education, policy, research and skills bulletin. This brings together up to date information relevant to our partners. Each month we will review key policy developments within the science, technology, engineering and maths community, and where applicable give you the opportunity to influence our responses to key policy and research.

 

As an additional bonus this UPDATE also highlights the first edition of the new ETB briefing papers. These expand on the reviews provided within this bulletin and are designed to give a more in depth analysis of some of the "hot topics" being discussed within the science, technology, engineering and maths community.

 

To comment on any of the items email rholdaway@etechb.co.uk. If you do not wish to receive this information in future please click on the link at the bottom of this letter and we will remove you from our mailing list. Copies of previous editions are available at www.etechb.co.uk/update.

 


Statistics: Leitch Milestone is Exceeded

Topic: Skills
Date: March 2007
Source: HM Treasury


Overview:

Figures published today reveal that the Government is moving in the right direction towards meeting Lord Leitch’s bold ambitions for the UK to become a world leader on skills. Almost three-quarters of the workforce now have a Level 2 qualification (the equivalent of five good GCSEs), the minimum skill level required to get a job and improve their productivity.

 

In addition, over half the population has a Level 3 qualification, the equivalent of two A levels. Leitch challenged the Government in December 2006 to get at least 90% of the population equipped with Level 2 qualifications by 2020.

 

ETB linked activity:

The ETB, whilst recognising that raising basic skills are vital to the UK economy, has concerns that higher level skills are required for science, engineering and technology (SET) careers and that these target still need addressing.

 

We feel that because of its importance the SET sector needs should have been highlighted or treated separately.  Our own commissioned research, which quantifies the contribution of SET to the UK economy, indicates that SET-intensive sectors contributed 27.1% of the improvement in labour productivity over 1993 to 2000. It follows that science and technology are key drivers of productivity.

 

Further information:

To view the ETB briefing paper on Leitch please click here.

 


Forum: Boost to STEM

Topic: Education
Date: March 2007
Source: Department for Education and Skills

Overview:

For the first time educationalists, employers and key bodies involved in promoting the four key strategic subjects - science, technology engineering and maths (known as STEM) will be able to contribute their views and advice by working formally together. A specialist group, the STEM Advisory Forum, will help formulate Government education policy and make these subjects more attractive to young people.


This forum will allow those in the sector to engage with Government and confront the issues we face attracting young people, boys and girls alike, into these subjects, which are so vitally important to our future. The group will focus on critical themes and issues and represent stakeholders across the STEM field.
 

ETB linked activity:

The ETB has fully engaged with the STEM Programme Report and its recommendations. We would particularly like to urge engineering and technology organisations to sign up to this advisory forum and input their concerns to Government.

Further information:

For more information see the DfES STEM Programme Report.

 


Report: The Value of an Apprentice

Topic: Education
Date: March 2006
Source: Department for Education and Skills
 

Overview:

The value of an apprenticeship is estimated to be significantly above that of other vocational qualifications, according to a study commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills. For the first time researchers looked at the contribution the apprenticeship programme is making to the economy.

 

Cost benefit analysis justifies a high value being put on apprenticeships in the UK. Wage returns to apprenticeships have increased over the last ten years, and good returns for women at level 3 (vocational; equivalent to A level standard), are seen for the first time.
 

ETB linked activity:

The ETB is a strong advocate of apprenticeship schemes and the routes it provides to Technician level jobs or on to Higher Education.

 

Further analysis within this report extends the results by considering the returns by age group, by qualification obtained, by highest prior qualification and by industrial sector. A key finding emerging from this further analysis is the importance of acquiring qualifications with the apprenticeship, at level 3 or above.

 

With the current drive in government towards Level 2 the ETB worry that these higher skills may be overlooked.

 

Further information:

The study was carried out by Steven McIntosh in the Economics Department of Sheffield University.

 

 
Work Shadowing Scheme

Following the success of its pilot scheme in 2006 the ETB, in partnership the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) and the Institute Of Career Guidance (ICG) will be running the Work Shadowing Scheme again this year. The Work Shadowing Scheme will involve Careers Advisors undertaking short-term placements in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) companies.

 

The scheme will bring employers and careers staff closer together and allow Careers Advisors better insight and understanding of roles and opportunities within the SET sector. The ETB is currently looking for SET companies to take part in the scheme, which will be run for two days in the week beginning 4th June 2007. If you are interested in providing a placement please click here.

 
 

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