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Science: Higher Education

Volume 490: debated on Thursday 26 March 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps the Government are taking to increase the uptake of science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses in universities by British students. (264740)

The Government are committed to increasing the number of young people studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects post-16 and in higher education. The Department is working closely with the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) on STEM skills to ensure that teaching and learning of science in schools is sufficiently interesting and challenging to inspire more able pupils to pursue STEM subjects in higher education and beyond.

DCSF is investing £140 million to support the STEM agenda in schools in England. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has undertaken a £350 million programme of work to support strategically important and vulnerable subjects which include STEM and additional funding of £75 million to support the high costs of some science subjects.