Joined-Up STEM programme for North West

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Joined-Up STEM programme for North West

For Cogent and its partners it’s clear that there is a need to coordinate the varied approaches that industry has in informing and enthusing young people about careers choices across STEM sectors. This is a critical activity for the Cogent industries which will need to recruit 1000’s of young people with technical and scientific aptitude over the coming years.

Earlier in the year Cogent, Chemicals Northwest and SETNET hosted the first STEM workshop to explore what a ‘joined-up’ system should look like in the region. Key representatives from industry, schools, and the education-business link communities were present, and a series of lively debates took place.

A number of key actions are now moving forward:

A single channel to market for STEM Enhancement has been established via the North West STEM Support Centre

The STEM Support Centre will map, alongside the National offerings, the plethora of schemes, initiatives, projects that are on offer in the region

Access to STEM careers information and promotion will be simplified through the Cogent Quexis brand and portal presence – www.quexis.org.uk

Cogent is mapping the career promotion and careers advice activities that are available to all in the North West

SETNET has also worked with the Regional Science Learning Centre and the Centre for Excellence in Teaching of Maths, to develop the first North West STEM Conference. This will take place on 3rd July at the North West Science Learning Centre.

Cogent Head of External Affairs, Mervin Dadd said: “These activities are gaining real momentum in the region. Quexis is aimed at bringing together education and industry to reinvigorate interest in science and technology. To launch this we are creating a Quexis careers game to go online as well as a teaching pack and card game around the periodic table, and around careers in our industries.”

Kevin Burke, Regional Director for SETNET added: “ask 10 teachers what is the best way to enhance their science, technology, engineering or maths curriculum, and you’ll get at least 11 different answers. You’ll get a similar response from those within industry who want a curriculum relevant to the world of work. This programme will bring a much great clarity of approach.”

Mervin added, “We hope this approach can be rolled out into other regions facing a similarly confused landscape.”

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