Diversity in Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM)

Transcription

1 1 Diversity in Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) Summary Aim to support UK secure maximum economic and social benefits from its world class research base by increasing STEM skills and diversity and improving the pipeline of high quality researchers Whole sector transformation through HMG s convening power and partnerships across industry, academia and beyond Using and improving the evidence link to evaluation Clear objectives and scrutinising outcomes Using innovative approaches to improve diversity: e.g. digital transformation of our services and trialling the use of capital funding to change behaviour. Susannah Wiltshire Head of Research Talent Susannah.wiltshire@beis.gov.uk

2 2 Background: The Challenge - Gender (data from IET) Women are well represented in some sectors and very underrepresented in others But this isn t the complete picture.

3 3 Background: The Challenge - Ethnicity 51% of BME compared with 71% of white Only engineering graduates enter full time employment after 6 months Source: Engineering UK Employment outcomes fo engineering graduates UK-domiciled first degree entrants to STEM subjects at UK HEIs (2014/15) Veterinary science Subjects allied to medicine Physical sciences Medicine & dentistry Mathematical sciences Engineering & technology Computer science Biological sciences Architecture, building & planning Agriculture & related subjects 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 Number of students - full-person equivalents (FPEs) Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record Asian Black White Other Unknown These characteristics intersect, affecting the likelihood of people entering and staying in STEM careers

4 4 Background: the STEM Diversity Landscape The landscape is crowded, with a variety of interested bodies National Centre for University & Business Talent 2030 Women s Business Council Key Government Partner Organisation Sample of interested bodies Girls in Physics GEO Equality Challenge Unit HEIs Widening Participation DfE Your Life Campaign DfT Year of Engineering 2018 Stemettes Ministerial Diversity Steering Group BEIS MoD - STEM Strategy WISE Science Grrl Royal Society RAEng Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Group Women s Engineering Society

5 5 STEM Inspiration: Our Approach For the UK to reach its full potential, we must draw on all available talent and improve diversity in the STEM workforce. Big Picture Key to Government ambitions on social mobility as STEM jobs pay better than most non-stem jobs BEIS and the rest of Government cannot achieve this alone. Business and the wider STEM sector must play a large part. Our approach: challenge sector to work with diverse audiences that are hard to reach. Changing behaviours rather than counting outputs. Evidence Targeting our activities in line with best available evidence: o Young people enjoy science but do not aspire to science careers if they have low science capital o Sustained engagement has more impact than one-off events, however amazing. BEIS funds activities to increase the supply of STEM skills in the economy. DfE contributes by improving the quality of STEM teachers.

6

7 Our flagship programmes STEM Ambassadors 33,000 volunteers from climate scientists to zoologists. o 40% are women, o 60% under 35 and o 13% from BAME backgrounds. 7

8 8 CREST Awards Britain s largest national award scheme for school-age project work in STEM subjects. Students who get a CREST Silver award are 20% more likely to do a STEM AS level. This rises to 40% for students who are eligible for Free School Meals. c.50% of pupils who do CREST Awards at all levels are girls.

9 9 Inspiring Science Fund Partnership with Wellcome Trust Capital fund helps science centres rethink what they do and offer to the public Requirement for new audiences It will fund projects between 150,000 and 3 million

10 10 STEM Inspiration: Using innovative approaches to drive cultural change Evidence & evaluation both key to target actions but trialling new ways of working helps to broaden the evidence base Inspiring Science Fund - Funding conditional on plans to reach new audiences and improve financial sustainability. - This is driving innovation in science and discovery centres Digital transformation - Funding agile development of digital platforms for the STEM Ambassadors Programme and CREST Awards: - So resources can be targeted at those who do not think science is for them - Making it easier for non-school organisations to access the resources - Enabling expansion of CREST Awards to new schools and rural areas - Enabling keen young people to enrol in CREST independently

11 11 Diversity in the Research and Innovation sector: Diversity Steering Group Work to date Initial focus on improving gender balance of public appointments in research Research Councils UK produced an Action Plan on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to lead change in the Research Sector. Diversity Steering Group Membership Innovate UK s In focus campaign on diversity. Commenced with successful Women in Innovation competition. Sub group working on project to consider evidence for removing barriers and promoting good practice. Provides strategic support and advice to Ministers and officials on actions to improve diversity in the Research and Innovation Sector Research communities, universities and business