The Royal Academy of Engineering has launched an online series of STEM education and skills policy seminars. The webinars hear from different guest speakers on a range of topics covering schools, technical and higher education affecting science and engineering skills. Each webinar is followed by a Q&A session with the speaker.
Engineering habits of mind
Speaker: Professor Bill Lucas, Director, Centre for Real-World Learning, University of Winchester
Engineering habits of mind: what they are, what we can learn from thinking about creative habits of mind and how reframing school subjects as engineering habits of mind can help us develop engineers in school. Drawing on research undertaken with the Royal Academy of Engineering and with the OECD, Professor Bill Lucas shares insights from his role as the co-chair of the new PISA 2021 Test of Creative Thinking and argues that schools need to rethink their approach to engineering and creative thinking.
Fun moments or consequential experiences?
Speaker: Professor Louise Archer, University College London Institute of Education
Professor Louise Archer shared current work from the four-year Youth Equity+STEM research project, which explores how informal STEM learning can meaningfully engage with and support young people from under-served communities.
Manufacturing the future workforce
Speaker: Paul Shakspeare, High Value Manufacturing Catapult
In the context of the success of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult in its role to deliver the benefits of innovation for the UK manufacturing sector, this talk developed concepts of how Centres of Innovation such as HVM Catapult, can further contribute to the success of industry by responding to the future skills needs of the sector’s workforce.
Global perspective on engineering higher education
Speaker: Dr Ruth Graham, Higher Education Consultant
Dr Ruth Graham outlines the changing landscape of engineering education, highlighting some examples of best practice from across the world. She discusses how the direction and speed of change might be influenced by the rapid shift to online teaching and learning resulting from COVID-19 restrictions.
Tinkering as a purposeful approach to engineering in primary schools
Speaker: Dr Lynne Bianchi, SEERIH Director, The University of Manchester
Drawing on the Academy's Thinking Like an Engineer and Tinkering for Learning reports, as well as insights from recent research into progression in engineering, Dr Lynne Bianchi introduces principles and approaches developed with teachers that enable an interdisciplinary approach to engineering through mainstream primary curriculum.
Panel discussion: the impact of COVID-19 on engineering education and skills
A panel of representatives from schools, further education, higher education, and industry discussed the impacts of COVID-19 on engineering education and skills and considered if valuable lessons can be learned from this crisis.
Speaker: Charles Tracy, Head of Education, Institute of Physics (IOP)
Charles Tracy discussed what a school physics curriculum based on big ideas and the practices of physics and engineering might look like. Charles makes the case for such a framework and describe what it might look like - including what constitutes a big idea.
Is the climate right for change in engineering education and training?
Speaker: Professor Tim Ibell FREng
Professor Ibell explores how engineering education can empower the right people with the right skills to help meet the government’s net zero target by 2050 and the changes needed to do this.
How to develop enterprise and employability skills in young people
Speaker: Tom Ravenscroft, CEO, Skills Builder
Tom Ravenscroft discussed the importance of young people developing broader enterprise skills, experiences of the working world and aspirations that they need to be successful, alongside good qualifications.
How to make STEM education equitable for all
Speaker: Jon Fitzmaurice, Head of Policy, Partnerships & Impact, British Science Association
Jon Fitzmaurice presented on how the Government, organisations and educators can help tackle inequity within STEM education.
In 2019, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM launched an inquiry on Equity in STEM education.