Long awaited findings of the STEM review published

[Joanne Stuart]

Tuesday this week saw the launch of the report on the findings from the STEM review,which was commissioned in 2007. The report was launched in the Long Gallery and there was a good turnout to hear Dr Hugh Cormican, Chair of the Review, present the main findings and Catriona Ruane, Minister for Education and Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Employment of Learning both of who welcomed the report.

Creativity and Innovation, a more co-ordinated engagement with business and improved careers guidance were some of the recommendations outlined by Dr Hugh Cormican.

The STEM Module (or truck as the Minister for Education referred to it) was also officially launched by a countdown from the European Space Agency. The 58 square metre STEM Module/Truck, is a mobile laboratory and workshop and provides an interactive workspace with interchangeable teaching resources, allowing it to transform from a biology laboratory one day into an engineering workshop the next. It will be managed as a regional facility by the North Eastern Education and Library Board and then the Education and Skills Authority when it is established in 2010.

The report can be accessed here

[Michael Murray]

This report presents a major challenge to business.

The 1st major imperatives states that
1. Business must take the lead in promoting STEM.

But as the report concludes
Conclusion 3 – Business not coordinated
The Business community has a clear role to play in the implementation of a STEM strategy but there is currently no suitable mechanism to coordinate this activity.

Hence the first recommendation is
Recommendation 1 – Establish a business-led STEM framework
Business should develop and lead a framework of stakeholders which will engage directly with schools, FE colleges, universities and government to focus on growing the STEM artery across the education service and the promotion of STEM within our society.

I totally agree. My main concern is how are we going to implement the reports recommendations.

This week we had two major reports released, this report on STEM and the Independent Review of Economic Policy. Both make reference to the need to implement the MATRIX report recommendations.

I just had a look at the MATRIX website, in the Chairman’s note Damian McDonnell says “Northern Ireland is brimming with ideas, talent and skills. What we now need is the muscle of business and academia to take these recommendations forward and the foresight of government to facilitate them. It’s time for all of us to put our foot on the accelerator and move on to the next phase.”

I hope we can quickly move to the next phase of decisions / implementing the reports recommendations. We all, business, academia and government, have a part to play.