HE STEM Programme announced

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has announced the launch of a National Higher Education STEM Programme, which aims to generate interest in STEM subjects among young people, enhance higher level skills in the workplace and increase accessibility of HE courses in these subjects. The HE STEM Programme will work to support higher education institutions (HEIs) and encourage them to explore new approaches to recruiting students and delivering curricula within the STEM disciplines.

The HE STEM Programme is a three-year initiative that will primarily support chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics - STEM subjects that have been deemed strategically important and vulnerable. In addition to the universities the programme will involve the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and a consortium of mathematical bodies, building on the work of these organisations during the Programme's pilot phase. The HE STEM Programme will complement the work of the government's STEM Programme, working closely with the National STEM Centre.

The programme will be delivered through a 'hub and spoke' model of universities. Six regional 'spoke' universities will work collaboratively with other HEIs in their region: the Universities of Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester Metropolitan, Southampton and Swansea. In addition the University of Birmingham will serve as the 'hub' of the programme, acting as co-ordinator and being responsible for the dissemination of good practice across the regions. Further information is available from the HE STEM Programme website.

Michael Grove, the Programme director, said: "I am really excited to be leading this programme. The emphasis on transferring and embedding tried and tested activities alongside encouraging further innovation in the design and delivery of HE STEM education will make a real difference to the way in which universities work with both schools and employers. The programme's aim is to facilitate sustainable developments within HE STEM which will bring long term benefits to individuals, the economy and society."

Professor John Holman, National STEM Director and Director of the National Science Learning Centre, said: "The UK needs more STEM graduates if we are to be a leader in the knowledge economy. The HE STEM Programme will complement the work already being done by the many supporters of STEM education in industry, government, foundations and academia: one of its key roles will be to create a 'pull' effect on students by showing them the interesting, exciting and rewarding experiences they will have if they make the choice to study STEM subjects at university. I look forward to working closely with Michael Grove and his team."