The Scottish Government

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What Scotland needs to do

DEVELOPING INDIVIDUALS

07. The Government Economic Strategy states that: "...our people are our greatest economic asset. A skilled and educated workforce is essential to building our comparative advantage and to the delivery of sustainable growth. Investment by all individuals and by the state in early years, school, further and higher education has a proven impact on the employability and productivity of individuals and, in turn, business growth."

08. Government will promote the development of the science, technology and engineering workforce of the future in ways which are adaptable and responsive to the aspirations of our young people and the changing needs of the science base and, in particular, business. This is, of course, wholly consistent with the established wider goal of education in Scotland, which is to produce successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors to society and responsible citizens.

09. Government will:

• Encourage more young people to prepare for, and pursue, science careers by:
• Actively promoting a more positive and realistic image of modern science and the diversity and rewards of careers which are science-based. A 3-year Do something creative. Do science marketing campaign will be launched in 2009 to begin changing perceptions of science courses and careers.
• Developing The Path is SET, a new science careers programme which will provide improved advice and guidance in schools and colleges across Scotland, helping students, parents and teachers make more informed choices.
• Make science in schools and colleges more challenging, relevant, interesting and exciting by:
• Enhancing attainment in and experience of science in schools and colleges through the ongoing implementation of Curriculum for Excellence ( CfE) and related reform of science qualifications.
• Supporting our brightest scientific talent with the introduction of the new Science Baccalaureate, and working with businesses to provide project opportunities which connect science and business innovation. This will include exploring potential links to the Knowledge Transfer Programme.
• Supporting teaching and learning in schools through increased investment in continuous professional development of teachers in primary and secondary schools, and input from scientists in the network of Science Centres, colleges, universities, research institutes and business.
• Fostering interaction between teachers, lecturers (in colleges and universities) and business so that science education continues to address industry challenges and new scientific knowledge and understanding. Links between education institutions and employers will continue to be supported through Determined to Succeed, work with COSLA and Local Authorities to reform Excellence in Education through Business Links ( EEBL) as part of CfE capacity-building, and expansion of the Science Ambassador network.
• Supporting the delivery of the new science curriculum in schools through the development a new self-assessment tool, to help benchmark the quality and relevance of input from scientists in colleges, universities, research institutes and businesses.
• Improving the match between science course provision and demand by:
• Working with the Scottish Funding Council, colleges and universities to consider costs and funding arrangements - within the overall resources available in any year - and how to optimise their capacity to respond to future student and employer demand for science courses.
• Encouraging the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technology ( SEMTA) to progress plans for a science skills forum which improves collaboration and responsiveness to changing cross-sectoral skills requirements.
• Asking the Funding Council and SEMTA to ensure these actions are connected.

10. The Scottish Government will also consider targeted and sustained growth in postgraduate number as one of the principles for future funding of universities as proposed by New Horizons. The Scottish Government has already increased the numbers of its prestigious Royal Society of Edinburgh Research Fellowships to six a year, extending their total duration from 3 to 5 years.

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