Big Increase In Science Students At Bath Spa University
22nd October 2008
An announcement by the Higher Education Funding Council for England
(HEFCE) predicts a brighter future for the study of vulnerable subjects
such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics at university.
Bath Spa University provides an excellent example of how working
more closely with local schools can boost interest in science courses.
The University has seen a 25 per cent increase in recruitment to
subjects in its School of Science and the Environment since 2006.
This increase bucks a national trend, which has led to widespread
concern in recent years about a decline in the numbers studying
science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects at
university. However, HEFCE is now forecasting a slight increase
nationally in science and maths intakes next year.
The School of Science and the Environment at Bath Spa University
provides a range of undergraduate courses including Geography,
Geographic Information Systems, Food and Nutrition Studies,
Environmental Science and Biology. In 2006 a total of 295 students were
on these courses. Last year that figure increased to 324. For the new
academic year, 2008-2009, the total number of students in the School
has gone up again to 371.
The steepest rise is in the popularity of Food and Nutrition
courses at Bath Spa, for which recruitment has almost doubled since
2004.
Dr David Watson, Assistant Head of Bath Spa's School of Science and
the Environment, attributes the dramatic improvement partly to closer
collaboration with local schools and colleges.
During the past year Dr Watson and his colleagues have run a series
of science enrichment activities on the University's Newton Park campus
for pupils from 27 secondary schools and colleges in the Bath and
Bristol area. Seven events, led by Bath Spa staff and student
ambassadors, drew in a total of 350 pupils.
As well as the annual Food and Nutrition Awareness Day, which is
well established, there have been half a dozen new activity days,
taking advantage of the Newton Park site's superb natural environment
for field study work and its well equipped laboratories for
experimental and analytical work.
Dr Watson is delighted by the increased popularity of science
courses at Bath Spa University: "We hope we are helping to kick-start a
reversal in the decline in numbers of people studying science in higher
education. Our staff have increased their collaboration with schools
and colleges in the area and this seems to be paying dividends."
