Community News Archive
Higher education market not working
Institute of Physics
20 January 2005
“Higher education market not working” says Institute president
At the UK’s most prestigious awards ceremony for physicists tonight, Professor Sir John Enderby will outline fundamental flaws in the higher education system which are causing the closure of physical science departments around the UK. He will call on government to change the funding of university departments to reflect the real cost of teaching, and highlight the urgent need for better careers advice in schools.
Professor Enderby, President of the Institute of Physics, will say: “Physics is in danger of failing its MOT. Although the UK has a world-class research base, and the demand for physicists – as research scientists, in industry and business, and as teachers – has never been higher, the engine of the subject – education – isn’t working properly.”
He will say: “There continues to be a chronic shortage of well qualified physics teachers, A Level uptake is declining, and university physics departments are in danger of closing. The future of physics, and the Government’s vision for science – depends on reversing these trends.”
“While the number of physics entrants hasn’t fallen dramatically in recent years, there has been no increase to match the total number of students in all subjects and their share of the funding ‘cake’ has fallen. This highlights some fundamental flaws in the design and operation of the higher education market.”
“Such a gap between supply and demand of physics graduates shows that higher education market signals are not working. The higher education market is not driven by employers but by student choice and there is no evidence to suggest that choices respond to actual demand. Careers advice in schools must be improved so that the market signals for the demand for physics degrees gets through to students when they are making these decisions in school.”
“There is also no doubt that there are systemic problems within the funding model of university departments. The solution is to review the funding for teaching students in general – and of physics students in particular - to reflect the real cost of teaching them.
“Physics is fighting back: it is the first subject in the UK to offer means-tested bursaries of around £1000 every year to students who want to study physics at a UK university.”
“Widening participation is also crucial – in particular of girls – by establishing a better understanding the causes of the imbalance between the sexes and applying these lessons, together with those from other countries such as Canada where a similar overall decline in numbers studying physical sciences has been reversed by successfully attracting more girls.”
Professor Enderby will conclude: “2005 is Einstein Year, the UK & Ireland’s contribution to the International Year of Physics. Einstein Year is a celebration of physics and is primarily focussed on inspiring young people – the next generation of physicists. We need to get the message across that physics can be the key that opens the door to many fantastic careers – from pushing the frontiers of our understanding of the Universe, to saving lives in hospitals, finding solutions to climate change and as business leaders and also in The City. But to get this message across we need to engage kids at their level with things that they are already interested in “
Professor Enderby's speech will be delivered at the Institute of Physics Awards Dinner 2005 at the Savoy Hotel, London on Thursday 20th January.