Stoned? Some thoughts on industry’s support to STEM secondary education Dr Martin Thomas Director of STEM Outreach QinetiQ.

Stoned? Some thoughts on industry’s support to STEM secondary education

Dr Martin ThomasDirector of STEM OutreachQinetiQ

© Copyright QinetiQ 2006

Cell regeneration – you’re not half the person you used to be!


Company regeneration – we’re not half the company we used to be!

• Companies’ public persona persists despite continual internal change

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• Direct heritage to defence research establishments of the 1940s

What is QinetiQ ? Never heard of it !

• Commercial company formed from the MoD’s R&D and T&E establishments

• Ultimate provenance to 1265 and the office of the “Master General of the Ordnance”


What Does QinetiQ Do?



Marine surface environment


Land environment


Air environment


Space: TopSat imaging satellite


Space: Astronaut training


Why is UK STEM education important to QinetiQ ?

• PR tool

• Outstanding young recruits

• Restricted UK recruitment pool

• Staff development for Chartership

• Technically literate society


STEM CAREERS

Why should industry be important to UK STEM education ?

R&

D

T&

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H&

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Pro

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n

Qu

alit

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Cust

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Support

Business/IndustryAcademiaGovernmentPrivate not-for-profit

OECD and OST data published in the Roberts Review of 2002


What skills does QinetiQ want ?

• Subject matter knowledge

• Cross-cutting skills

– Logical scientific analytical progression

– Data collection, analysis, interpretation

– Communication skills (written and oral)

– Teamwork

– Flexibility in technical focus

– Innovation/Entrepreneurship

– Collaboration



What skills does QinetiQ want ?

• Competition vs. Collaboration


Where to strategically apply limited resources ?

• ‘Outreach’ activities

• Perceived career prospects

• School-based curriculum

(including standard of facilities)

• Teachers

• Media portrayal including

‘heroes’

• Friends & family


• Excite and enthuse pupils

• Support those who influence the learning experience in the classroom

Should industry move up the value chain ?


How to support the ‘influencers’?

• Top-level, national fora ?

• Financial sponsorship vs. hands-on support vs. internet ?

• Collaborative or independent ?

• In-depth or widespread ?

• Unclear route to teacher CPD: Charities vs. LEAs vs. SLCs


The beginnings of a QinetiQ strategy ?

• In response to feedback from ‘influencers’ themselves

• Direct to teachers, careers advisors and schools advisors & inspectors

• Collaborative

• Nationally renowned schemes

• Spread across UK

• Hands-on support + appropriate sponsorship


(QinetiQ) way forward ?

• Data set case studies


(QinetiQ) way forward ?

• Distributed collaborative projects



(QinetiQ) way forward ?- Regional fora

• Regional fora/events aimed at:– Addressing specific needs of ‘influencers’

– Communicating requirements of industry

• Collaborative events

• Relationship to SLCs and Strategic Fora ?

• Free facilities at QinetiQ sites, expert speakers, links to universities and industry


Conclusions

• Education and Industry both gain by ‘higher value’ collaboration

• Industry “could do better”

• Barriers to greater participation (situation with regard to teacher CPD)

• Success needs collaboration and dialogue

Feel free to throw stones !

[email protected]

Stoned? Some thoughts on industry’s support to STEM secondary education Dr Martin Thomas Director of STEM Outreach QinetiQ.

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