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Mathematics Today Policy Round-up

April 2012

Research

Academics write to EPSRC

Twenty academics who attended an EPSRC Pure Mathematics Workshop (Bath, 19–20 January 2012) have written to the EPSRC to register their disappointment in event. The letter is available on the London Mathematical Society website. 

EPSRC research portfolio updated

EPSRC made decisions on the relative funding trajectory for a further 31 research areas in mid-February. This did not include the mathematical sciences. EPSRC published decisions on all the research areas within the EPSRC portfolio on 31 March. More information is available at http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2012/Pages/shapingcapabilityupdate.aspx

National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW) Seminar

For the first time the Council for the Mathematical Sciences (CMS) collaborated with the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee (P&SC) to hold a successful seminar – Mathematics Matters: A Crucial Contribution to the County’s Economy – at the House of Commons on 15 March. The meeting was supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and was chaired by Andrew Miller MP (Science and Technology Committee and Professor Paul Glendinning (CMS) and provided an excellent opportunity to hear from leaders in the field about the major contribution that mathematics makes to our society.

Voice of the Future 2012

The Council for the Mathematical Sciences (CMS) was invited for the first time to submit names of young mathematicians to join an audience of other young scientists and mathematicians in a science question time with members of the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology. The event took place on 14 March at Portcullis House. More information is available at http://www.societyofbiology.org/newsandevents/events/view/354

Inquiry into postgraduate education

The Higher Education Commission has launched an independent inquiry examining the future of postgraduate education. There is an opportunity for interested parties to submit written evidence to the Commission. The Commission is particularly interested in receiving evidence on:

  • demand for and utilisation of postgraduate skills;
  • postgraduates’ role in R&D;
  • the response of higher education institutions to emerging industries;
  • frameworks for dialogue between businesses and HE on postgraduate issues;
  • the role of government; and
  • professional qualifications.

The deadline for submission is Monday 2 April 2012. A final report will be published before the 2012 summer break. All inquiry documents are available from the Commission’s website http://www.policyconnect.org.uk/hec/news/articles/call-evidence-published

Higher Education

HEFCE funding for higher education 2012–13

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has announced its funding decisions for higher education in England following the annual grant letter from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and subsequent decisions by the HEFCE Board. This announcement covers HEFCE funding for the academic year 2012–13. More information is available at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2012/funding.htm

Funding for higher education in England for 2012–13

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Minister for Universities and Science have confirmed funding allocations to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for 2012–13 and the Government’s priorities for the Council for the coming year.

The grant letter confirms government funding and priorities for HEFCE and for higher education in a year when the new financial arrangements for higher education in England will be implemented. The ring-fenced settlement for science and research means that we will be able to maintain overall funding for research at the same cash levels as for 2011–12. A copy of the letter is available at http://www.hefce.ac.uk/finance/fundinghe/grant/grantletter1213.pdf

Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) publishes new report

The report Institutional Diversity in UK Higher Education was published at the end of January. One finding of the report says that, ‘there have clearly been major changes in the balance of subject provision of undergraduate courses, notably a decline in Science and Technology subjects, alongside a significant increase in Creative and Performing Arts, Media Studies and Politics. However, in general, the major changes in subject provision have matched the changes in demand – although mathematics is a notable exception to this. ‘Applications for mathematics degrees grew by 87%, far outstripping most other subjects, but the number of institutions offering mathematics fell’. The full report is available from the HEPI website.

University applications

Figures published by UCAS show the number of applicants from the UK has decreased by 8.7% overall. There has been a 2.8% decrease in applications to the mathematical & computer sciences. This is compared to a 0.6% drop for physical sciences and a 4.4% decrease for biological sciences. The full data set is available at http://www.ucas.ac.uk/about_us/media_enquiries/media_releases/2012/20120130

Schools and Colleges

Mathematics assessment in the sciences at A-level

SCORE has commissioned a project to look at how mathematics is assessed in the sciences at A-level. The Working Group met on 7 February 2012 to discuss recommendations, and the final report will be launched on 27 April 2012. More information is available at http://www.score-education.org/policy/qualifications-and-assessment/mathematics-in-science

Bridging the Mathematics Gap

The Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (ACME) launched a call for advice in February on the development of a course for students who do not currently take A-level mathematics but will still need to continue with mathematics. ACME wanted to engage with the widest possible community on this issue. The deadline for views was 23 March 2012 and the LMS has responded to ACME. Information on this initiative is available at http://www.acme.uk.org/media/8913/acme_callforevidence_hr.pdf


The administration of examinations for 15–19 year olds

As part of its inquiry the Education Select Committee took oral evidence in January. The transcript of this evidence is available at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmeduc/uc1671-iii/uc167101.htm

Vision for science and mathematics education 5–19

The Royal Society is undertaking a new project to set out an evidence-based vision for a future world-class, high-performing 5–19 education system, particularly with respect to science and mathematics.

Five specific areas for inquiry have been identified, all of which are essential considerations for establishing and sustaining a high-performing and well-respected science and mathematics education system:

  • teachers (and the wider workforce);
  • leadership and ethos;
  • skills, curriculum and assessment;
  • infrastructure; and
  • accountability.

This new project is hoping to find out what needs to be done to help ensure that all young people have an inspiring introduction to science and mathematics, and that those who wish to pursue these subjects further are enabled to do so.

More information is available at http://royalsociety.org/education/policy/vision/?f=1 Information on the Vision committee members is available at http://royalsociety.org/news/vision-launch/

Mathematics for Engineering: A new Level 3 qualification

The Royal Academy of Engineering and Engineering Professors’ Council, together with many other leading institutions in engineering, have developed a new Level 3 maths qualification called Mathematics for Engineering. OCR awarding body is successfully offering this qualification and more information can be found on the OCR website at http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/ogq/maths/eng_l3_cert/index.aspx

The qualification is specifically designed to boost the mathematics content of the Engineering Diploma and can also be studied as a standalone module alongside A-level. For more information visit http://www.raeng.org.uk/education/diploma/maths/default.htm

ICT in schools

The Royal Society has published a report entitled Shut down or restart? The way forward for computing in UK schools. This follows Michael Gove's announcement that the ICT curriculum in schools needs a 'radical revamp'.
http://royalsociety.org/news/computing-report/

John Johnston
Maths Promotion Unit

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