he UK has long held a reputation for academic excellence. It has some of the oldest institutions in the world dedicated to teaching and learning, Oxford University being established in 1096. In the Times Higher Education Rankings 2018, which lists the top 1000 universities in the world, the UK’s Oxford and Cambridge Universities took first and second place respectively. Imperial College, London came in at eighth place. For a small country, the UK punches well above its weight in the academic arena.
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A CENTRE OF STEM EXCELLENCE As an internationally recognised world leader in science and engineering, according to non-profit organisation the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), the UK’s academic research base has provided 15 per cent of the world’s most significant academic papers, and the UK has more Nobel Prizes than any other country, with the exception of America. The statistics are impressive for a country with less than one percent of the world’s population.
Britain has also led from the front in the creation of smartphone technology. It is responsible for the technology involved in 80 per cent of digital cameras, and 35 per cent of all electronic devices were developed in the UK.
ATTRACTING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS It is hard to deny the UK’s superior STEM credentials and attractive research base for academic study. Indeed, according to the British Council, the UK has become especially appealing to international students seeking to further their studies, and ultimately their careers, in STEM subjects. Research by the British Council, which analysed the reasons behind international STEM students’ choice of course and country of study, revealed that undergraduate respondents chose the UK overwhelmingly because of its reputation for high-quality education and excellent career prospects. “It’s great to see that the UK’s excellence in teaching and research in these areas is recognised by STEM students around the world,” said Gordon Slaven, the British Council's head of higher education. “The fact that the UK continues to attract large numbers of STEM students means that the UK education experience is contributing to the development of countries around the world, and creating long-term connections for the UK in the future. Creating a young workforce with transferable, in-demand skills is what will drive the global economy forward.” Interestingly, the British Council research found that
the more globally mobile the STEM skills on offer in each individual country and institution were, the more attractive the prospect was to international students.
“Perhaps the most compelling finding,” said Zainab Malik, director of research at Education Intelligence, “is that international STEM students are keen to master the globally transferable skills learned in their courses, and, as a result, prioritise opportunities to research or work; there is a relationship between destination countries that support such opportunities and growth in international STEM enrolments. “International STEM students seek high-quality education and enhanced career prospects; therefore, the most attractive education systems will be those which are best integrated with the innovation economy.”
STEM IN THE UK AFTER BREXIT
The UK attracts the best researchers from around the world, but there is concern amongst the scientific community that Brexit will make it harder for Britain to attract top research talent and for UK-based researchers to collaborate effectively on an international scale. Universities and UK businesses called on the government
to ensure that European students will continue to be granted the freedom to study in UK higher-education institutions post-Brexit.
In a move that was largely welcomed by UK business and higher education, Universities and Science minister Jo Johnson gave his assurance that EU students applying for places at English universities in the 2018/19 academic year would continue to be eligible for student loans and grants – and would be for the duration of their courses. “We have been clear about our commitment to the UK’s world-class higher education sector,” he said. “Through our modern industrial strategy and the additional £4.7 billion committed for research and innovation over the next 5 years, we are ensuring the UK has the skills and environment it needs to continue leading the way in academia and research. “A key part of our success is attracting talent from across the globe. This will provide reassurance to the brightest minds from across Europe to continue applying to study in the UK, safe in the knowledge financial assistance is available if needed.”
INNOVATIONS IN STEM TEACHING In 2015, Marymount International School London, a Catholic boarding school for girls, became the first school in the UK to establish a fully equipped ‘fab lab’ (fabrication laboratory), a state-of-the-art workshop equipped with an array of flexible, computer-controlled tools that can make almost anything.
Marymount uses its fab lab to teach computer programming, coding, robotics and design – areas that straddle
Left: Denstone College Keep Informed |
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