National HE STEM maths strand
The National HE STEM Programme is a 3-year, £21million, initiative funded by the Higher Education Funding Councils for England and Wales (HEFCE and HEFCW) that commenced on the 1 August 2009.
Building on the experience of the More Maths Grads project (MMG) a group of societies and others in the mathematical sciences have collaborated to oversee and direct the mathematical sciences input to the National HE STEM Programme. The bodies comprise: the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA), the London Mathematical Society (LMS), the Royal Statistical Society (RSS), the Heads of Departments of Mathematical Sciences (HoDoMS), sigma and the HEA MSOR Network.
The mathematical sciences programme will address the following main themes:
(a) Integration and diversity - drawing on and extending the work of MMG and others to widen and enlarge entry to mathematical sciences undergraduate courses, and embed approaches into universities.
(b) Employer engagement - looking at employer needs in basic and high-level mathematics and statistics and in the application of scientific and mathematical knowledge in order to meet the Government's wish to improve work-force skills, and exploring implications for the HE curriculum.
(c) HE curriculum innovation - exploring current learning, teaching and assessment practices within mathematical sciences departments, and disseminating good practice.
(d) Mathematical sciences support - establishing and extending a network for mathematical sciences support in universities, building on sigma's regional hub model, working together to share resources and experience.
Maths Strand Outputs in the National HE STEM Programme
A dynamic one day workshop sharing the outputs of the Maths Strand of the National HE STEM Programme with a wide range of resources to take away for HE mathematics departments. This workshop will be repeated in 5 different locations (Download flyer [PDF]). These are free workshops.
| Date | Venue |
| 3 May 2012 | National STEM Centre, York |
| 10 May 2012 | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| 17 May 2012 | London Metropolitan University |
| 25 May 2012 | University of Birmingham |
| 30 May 2012 | Cardiff University |
Each workshop will run in two parts, enabling colleagues to attend the sessions which are most appropriate for them. If you would like to attend, please e-mail Hazel Lewis hazel.lewis@ima.org.uk, stating whether you would like to attend Part A and/or Part B; have any special access requirements and whether you can stay for lunch.
Part A: 11am – 1pm Outreach, Widening Participation, Careers and Employer Engagement
Delivered by Makhan Singh and Hazel Lewis, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
The maths strand work in this area has been led by the IMA (Institute of Mathematics and its Applications). This session will showcase the diverse set of resources which have been developed, as well as the lessons which have been learnt in the areas of outreach, widening participation, careers and employer engagement. Part of this session will focus on the hands on maths outreach kits which have been developed, so there will be plenty of opportunities to try out the activities and network with the other delegates.
Lunch: 1pm – 1.45pm (Please inform us of any dietary requirements in advance)
Part B: 1.45pm – 3.45pm HE Curriculum Innovation and Student Support
Delivered by Peter Rowlett, MSOR Network and a sigma representative
The MSOR Network led the Curriculum Innovation activities and a strong steer was given to this work by the HE Mathematics Curriculum Summit. The Summit identified areas where work was urgently needed and following a competitive tendering process, HEIs were engaged to carry out investigations in these areas. The findings and outputs from these projects as well as others will be outlined.
In student support, the sigma-network has been established and regional hubs have provided developmental activities and opportunities to share good practice in maths and stats support on a regional basis. Funding has been made available to help establish several new support centres and training provided to staff and post-graduates who work in these centres. Input from sigma to this session will focus on its legacy from the HE-STEM programme: where resources can be found and how to use them; the operation of regional hubs in the future and the sigma advisors list.
Other HE STEM Programme Maths Workshops
Using social media to engage students in mathematical sciences
16 April 2012, University of Birmingham
http://mathstore.ac.uk/node/2096
Media Enhanced Teaching and Learning - Dissemination Meeting
24 April 2012, University of Nottingham
http://mathstore.ac.uk/node/1967
Group Work working group meeting
8 May 2012, University of Birmingham
http://mathstore.ac.uk/node/2090
Placements for Mathematics undergraduates
14 May 2012, University of Greenwich
http://mathstore.ac.uk/node/1869
Being a professional mathematician
15 May 2012, University of Greenwich
http://mathstore.ac.uk/node/1870
Share, Improve, Develop: An interactive workshop to explore student involvement in STEM Communication Activities
25 May 2012, University of Bath
http://www.hestem.ac.uk/event/he-stem-event/share-improve-develop-interactive-workshop-explore-student-involvement-stem-comm
CETL-MSOR Conference 2012
12 to 13 July 2012, University of Sheffield
http://mathstore.ac.uk/conference2012
Maths Outreach Report
As part of the HEFCE funded HE STEM programme, the IMA carried out a survey of outreach activities which take place in HE maths departments in England and Wales.
This survey was carried out with the view that it will help build links and enable the sharing of good practice between institutions.
You can download a copy of the results below:
