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The RSPA HE Task Group advises the RSPA and other bodies about higher level skills and related activities and comprises representatives of SEEDA; HEFCE; HESE; GOSE; Foundation Degree Forward; LSC; AOSEC; SSDA and other interested organisations. The group has developed an action plan, based on the SEEDA Regional Economic Strategy to assist the members in achieving goals in the following areas:
Current work includes: A. In order to influence the implementation of the Education-Led Regeneration and Growth strategy, the RSPA HE Task Group has identified the need to conduct an Intelligence Gathering and Mapping Exercise with the intention to develop Econometric Models to forecast the needs for higher skills at regional and local levels over the next 20 years. With this in mind, SEEDA is inviting proposals to look into a feasibility of developing a modeling tool which will allow for modeling and forecasting of key indicators needed for informing the viability of new provision of HE across the South East region of England. It is envisaged that London and the Thames Gateway areas could be incorporated at a later stage. This first call is for a Scoping Exercise to be carried out, designed to assess the feasibility of developing a suitable modeling tool. This exercise involves the gathering of information already existing in the South East region on existing modeling approaches, and identifying necessary variables and data sets and/or resources to be able to populate and develop a software based resource that would assess the supply (of skills) and the demand for higher learning against various economic and social factors. It is hoped that this resource will become an indispensable tool for SEEDA and other role-players' when considering investment in higher learning, as well as for general economic policy purposes. B. The Learning and Skills Division within SEEDA have commissioned CILT, the National Centre for Languages, to produce a booklet summarising the economic case for languages, and intercultural skills, in the South East. The booklet will be subdivided into six sections:
There have been delays in commissioning this work, but the booklet is expected to be ready for distribution in July 2007. For further information contact Graham Grover. NewsIntelligence gathering and mapping exerciseIn order to influence the implementation of the Education-Led Regeneration and Growth strategy, the RSPA HE Task Group has identified the need to conduct an Intelligence Gathering and Mapping Exercise with the intention to develop Econometric Models to forecast the needs for higher skills at regional and local levels over the next 20 years. With this in mind, SEEDA has invited proposals to look into a feasibility of developing a modeling tool which will allow for modeling and forecasting of key indicators needed for informing the viability of new provision of HE across the South East region of England. This first call is for a Scoping Exercise to be carried out, designed to assess the feasibility of developing a suitable modeling tool. This exercise involves the gathering of information already existing in the South East region on existing modeling approaches, and identifying necessary variables and data sets and/or resources to be able to populate and develop a software based resource that would assess the supply (of skills) and the demand for higher learning against various economic and social factors. It is hoped that this resource will become an indispensable tool for SEEDA and other role-players' when considering investment in higher learning, as well as for general economic policy purposes. Once the study has been commissioned, partners will be contacted and asked to assist the contracted researchers to ensure that as much relevant information as possible is collected. For further information contact Graham Grover Is there an economic case for languages, and intercultural skills, in the South East?The Learning and Skills Division within SEEDA have commissioned CILT, the National Centre for Languages, to produce a booklet summarising the economic case for languages, and intercultural skills, in the South East. The booklet will be subdivided into six sections:
There were delays in commissioning this work, but the booklet is expected to be ready for distribution in July 2007. For further information contact Graham Grover e4 - engaging employers, enriching education a delivery partnershipThe Learning and Skills Division within SEEDA have contracted SETNET, under the STEM Support Centres, to manage > a pilot project to test out more effective partnership working and to co-ordinate partners activities in engaging employers and enriching education in SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) subjects. The projects will trial more effective, coherent ways of joint working and align priorities for greater effectiveness, impact and a more cost effective funding model. The project will be delivered through the local SETPOINT and local Industrial Trust in each sub-region (MKOB and Sussex) and will enable SEEDA, through this partnership, to act on SESETAC advice and focus resources on increasing the supply of SET skilled researchers, advanced technicians, entrepreneurs and effective SET teachers, as well as enthuse schoolchildren about SET. The project will entail recruiting 40 businesses, 30 schools and 2 universities and through cluster working, provide teacher in-company sessions and company related educational activities for children and teachers. These activities will be supported with the development of teacher training courses and educational materials. The recruitment, registration and management of Science and Engineering Ambassadors will be an integral part of the project. Working on each of the partners areas of expertise will mean that activities that are to be delivered in-school will be led by the local SETPOINT, whilst for activities delivered in-company, the local Industrial Trust will take the lead. It is envisaged that each of the partners will benefit from the others strengths and expertise. The project will run through to March 2008. For further information contact Graham Grover Stimulating Physics and Engineering across the South EastSEEDA, through the regional STEM support centre reporting to SESETAC, is working to identify a small number of key projects of critical mass, which address the need to encourage more students to study strategic shortage subjects. As a start to this, it has announced the contracting of a project which will stimulate more students to take up physics and engineering and provide a valuable CPD resource for primary and secondary schoolteachers, by working with two high profile centres in Canterbury and Winchester. The project will fund the development of an observatory at the Langton Star Centre in Canterbury as well as equip a planetarium at the INTECH Science Learning Centre in Winchester. These facilities will provide, in collaboration with the regional Science Learning Centre at Southampton and SETNET, CPD for schoolteachers including physics teachers without a recognised subject qualification and outreach to schools which will stimulate an interest in physics and engineering in a wide range of primary and secondary schools. The Langton Star Centre at the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys was established in September 2005 and since has transformed the way that physics and astronomy is taught. Through developing their teaching to include cosmology and particle physics and using a huge range of stunning images taken by their own students using the Faulkes Telescope they have brought the excitement and wonder of the subjects directly to students, teachers and the wider community. The Star Centre is available to the school's staff and students; primary school pupils throughout the local district and beyond; primary and secondary school teachers throughout the South East of England; students and staff from the School of Physical Science at the local university; the local astronomical society as well as interested groups from the local community. The Star Centre illustrates how opportunities provided by advances in technology can be accessible to all schools or groups of schools who want to increase uptake of and enthusiasm for the sciences. The schools' vision is to develop the Langton Star Centre further to include a planetarium, observatory, exhibition area and science learning resource centre as a single facility on the school site. INTECH is a unique, exciting interactive centre administered by the educational charity, The Hampshire Technology Centre Trust Ltd, with the specific purpose of promoting the knowledge and understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It aims to advance the education, knowledge and understanding of the public, in particular the young, in basic technological and scientific principles and processes, particularly through the improvement of links between industrial, commercial and educational bodies and institutions. In 2002 INTECH was re-housed into a new 3,500 square metre purpose-built, award winning building at Morn Hill, near Winchester. The multi-million pound project was funded partly through the Millennium Commission, NTL, IBM, the DfES and DTI, SEEDA and HCC. INTECH receives some 60,000 visitors each year, 20,000 being schoolchildren on planned school visits. The existing stimulating, fun exhibition consists of 100 hands-on interactive exhibits, which communicate the fundamental principles of science and technology and their applications in industry and the home. Schools visiting INTECH benefit by participating in a whole host of scientific and technological investigations and hands-on experiences which cover many areas of the curriculum and the introduction of a planetarium is expected to increase the visitor numbers significantly. For further information contact Graham Grover. |
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