STEM Career Pathways Presentation to NFEC Conference November 2013 Dr M A Ryan
What is “STEM Career Pathways”? A research project funded via the Association of Colleges to investigate ways of generating progression paths for 19+ to 24 year olds not currently earning, in education or training, leading towards careers requiring STEM knowledge/skills. There are three interlinking components.
A Creation of STEM Career pathway frameworks C B Identification of Creation of evolving career national network of pathways STEM providers
A Programmes geared to provide: • generic employment skills • vocational tasters and qualifications in a choice of STEM subject areas • work experience in employment requiring STEM based knowledge/skills Programme structures have to be flexible to allow different sectors to work in the most effective way for them. (This approach is deliberate to help determine the feasibility of alternative modes of entry e.g. block, roll-on/roll-off which may be more easily implemented by a range of organisations). Documentation and tracking documents will be developed to simplify the administration of the programmes.
B Creation of a national network of colleges who have already gained, who are working towards, or who are interested in finding more about, STEM Assured status to: i. ensure that materials and pathways developed in the project meet regional and national needs, ii. identify ways of ensuring that programmes become self-sustaining iii. share findings through national network meetings and formal reports.
C Collaboration with local and regional business agencies to identify potential learners and to research new and emerging STEM based job roles that will be required in the future.
THE CONTEXT The college has a STEM Manifesto produced in partnership with the New Engineering Foundation which states that Central to our STEM strategy is a curriculum that recognises Design and Applied Science and Maths as the base. This project application responds to several pledges made in the document amongst these are: • Ensure that STEM is given prominence and status in the College and the community it serves • Commit to building a strong STEM capability for the region • Ensure that we raise the level of STEM literacy, numeracy and employability skills in the community • Develop innovation and enterprise skills in our students • Create new and innovative ways of learning to offer the best learning environment for our students • Provide a lead in understanding new technologies and their impact on future training requirements and development opportunities for the local community and employers • Provide the capacity and capability in STEM to enable employers to meet business objectives and the region’s economic priorities • Commit to build the technical and scientific understanding, knowledge and expertise to support the sustainability drive in the region • Commit to leading the local employers in development of new skills and opportunities • Commit to using STEM as a vehicle to cross international boundaries and provide access to a truly cross cultural education
Participating organisations and their roles in the programme. Lead on innovation and curriculum development. The aim is to encourage a culture of the ‘critical friend’ to find the solutions that best fit local circumstances. Our expectation for other FE providers is that they take what works for them, amend the parts that don’t, but get involved in debate so that we learn from each other. EMFEC will undertake three significant roles; 1. help implement and host dissemination activities within the region. 2. act as an independent project monitor, evaluating on programme activity and acting as a critical friend. 3. lead activity on identifying the gaps that exist in the region currently with a view to forming a regional STEM strategy that references the low carbon sector. 8
help disseminate activity to other STEM Assured colleges help assist co-ordination of the national STEM network. Other organisations include; Nottinghamshire Jobcentre Plus Employer First Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Chambers of Commerce TUC ‘Unionlearn’
Targets have been set for the first year of the framework as follows; • 60 participants in 5 STEM areas • 54 (90%) will undertake a minimum of 2 weeks work placement. • 36 (60%) will undertake between 2 – 6 weeks work placement. • 24 (40%) will undertake between 6 – 10 weeks work placement. • 20 (33%) will complete the programme and then be in education, employment or training.
ACTION 1 Stage 1: Recruitment of candidates who have indicated a potential interest in a low carbon/STEM related career pathway. Stage 2: Participant Induction followed by generic work skills programme of between 30 – 45 hours dependant on need to get learners ‘Apprenticeship Ready’. Stage 3: Candidates trial their choices. Stage 4; work placement. Target employers, in the first instance, are SME’s who need employees seeking work in STEM/low carbon sectors. Stage 5: Work placement monitoring/mentoring which will include ‘Unionlearn’ East Midlands. Stage 6: Career guidance move into employment or education & training
ACTION 2 EMFEC have already undertaken an extensive mapping exercise for FE provision covering provision for the low carbon sector. They are also able to advise on each member college’s STEM provision therefore giving us comprehensive understanding of current provision. What hasn't been done is to identify gaps in provision and future developments needed. This must then be mapped against current qualifications available to determine any gaps. ‘Clean Tech Network’ has published a report on low carbon demand which will inform the next stage in determining future employer skills demand. EMFEC will meet with representatives to undertake qualitative research with a view to producing a report on new qualifications and skills training needed for the future.
ACTION 3 Coordination of activities with other colleges. It is anticipated that bi- monthly meetings will be held to monitor the project, to allow participants to have an input into it, to start taking what they can from our experiences and shaping their own local solutions to local problems and finally to share best practice.
Progress to date Identification of potential programs in a. Engineering and Manufacturing (Gavin Varley) b. Construction (Terry Brickles) c. Beauty Therapy (Alison Asbury) d. IT Industries (Jeannette Mortimer) e. Sport (Adam Beazley) f. Science Industries (Trissa Pearson) Cross curricular programmes e.g. “Cars, Sport and getting Plastered”
Creation of National Network Participants in “ Skills for a Low Carbon Economy: Apprenticeships in the East Midlands” study have been invited to an inaugural meeting at EMFEC in December 2013. [http://www.emfec.co.uk/files/ww/Apprenticeships_Low%20Carbon%20Report.pdf, 2011] NEF contacted for contacts from colleges which have already gained and colleges which are working towards “STEM Assured status” Open invitation to members of NFEC to participate in the study. Anyone interested contact: mike.ryan@centralnottingham.ac.uk
Collaboration with external agencies Central College is able to build on previous contacts and links with a wide range of agencies. The existing group of colleges focused on the identification and implementation of career opportunities in low carbon industries has greatly enhanced the initial concept of developing a wider network. EMFEC has proved to be an effective mediator between disparate sectors. ABC are based in the same centre as EMFEC. Other Awarding Bodies are invited to become involved in identifying potential programmes and qualifications.
What are we looking for? Colleges interested in developing STEM vocational opportunities to participate in helping develop STEM Career Pathways. Ideally; • 6 colleges who have already gained STEM Assured status • 4 colleges with an interest in developing their STEM offer Other agencies, interested in participating in the project Meetings will be held at EMFEC Nottingham Headquarters. The first meeting is scheduled for Monday 2 nd December, hosted by the East Midlands low carbon technology group at EMFEC, Nottingham. Interested? Contact mike.ryan@centralnottingham.ac.uk
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