Robert Newbery

“Opportunities for practical science are particularly important for less engaged students but only 26% of GCSE students are doing hands-on practical work at least fortnightly, down from 44% in 2016, and interest in science has declined - this is perhaps unsurprising given how much we know students like practical work.” Alarming new report by EngineeringUK; clearly not enough has been done in the past decade to overcome these barriers! And it begs this question how are we going to compete economically on the world stage with these worrying trends?

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The latest #ScienceEducationTracker from EngineeringUK, The Royal Society and Wellcome Trust’s great work aligns with what we’re seeing at Tech She Can 👏 Our recent research with Templeton and Partners - Tech Recruitment looked at similar attitudes to, and experience of, #STEMeducation and #careers, but with a focus on *primary* age. It shows what primary teachers urgently need: https://lnkd.in/e85J_pSZ 👀 Our report: https://hubs.li/Q02j0Glj0 👉 75% of primary teachers believe that careers education is important in primary schools, but only half have access to quality and *inclusive* careers education and only 15% feel the available experiences are sufficient, leaving many without *diverse* career insights 👉 c70% of primary school teachers believe that gender stereotypes around STEM start *before* the age of 11; 1 in 5 teachers are confident that stereotyping starts at *pre-school* age  👉 Although girls are reported by their teachers to enjoy STEM subjects more than boys, girls are almost 70% less likely to aspire to a STEM career 👉 c60% of teachers believe a trained volunteer - such as a #TechWeCan Champion, a real-life, relatable industry role model - visiting a school to deliver lessons would be most effective to inspire children. At #TechSheCan our experiences and learning resources start young - from age 5 to +16yrs - because we know STEM gender stereotypes set in early. They're designed by teachers, for teachers. They're inclusive, girl-friendly. For all. The Tracker calls for:  📢 ’'Government... to ensure the teaching of science, maths and computer science is more engaging for all students and builds confidence in the subjects, particularly for girls…’’; 📢 ‘’Extra-curricular activities boost young people’s interest in continuing their STEM education. Half of students who visited a business said they were inspired to continue with STEM subjects and 45% of those who had a talk at school from someone working in STEM said the same...’; 📢 ''[industry]... also needs to step-up and help young people see the range of opportunities for them...'' We have the solutions. We bring roles to life, making tech roles real and current. We connect childrens' passions to STEM and show that science & tech is inherently creative. And we’re doing it *with* industry (+250 members across +40 sectors): literally #openingdoors, taking children into our partners’ workplaces for immersive Career Insights. Many of the schools we work with would not otherwise have #access to these experiences. We see the realities of the education sector on the ground, and the '#AspirationGap’ in classrooms across the UK, every day. https://lnkd.in/eQejXD4X With Sheridan Ash MBE, Robyn Howard, Becky Patel, Millie Stacey #GenderEquality #WiT #STEMEducation #socialmobility

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New Lancaster University Management School and Sunway Business School #Podcast on Building a Sustainable Future 🌏 Link: https://lnkd.in/drm2kz_m In this episode co-hosted by the Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business Director Jan Bebbington and Content Manager Paul Turner, Lancaster University Management School Associate Dean (International) Marwan Izzeldin and Sunway Business School Deputy Dean (Research and Sustainability) Yuka Fujimoto and yours truly discussed on the state of sustainability and what lies ahead for the planet and its people🎙 The world has many problems, which are growing, not shrinking, as seen by the increase from 8 Millennium Development Goals for 2015 to 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2023, and very likely another 50 for 2050, as we are regressing, not progressing, on sustainability 📉 What the world needs is a reimagination in the ways we approach sustainability - new ways, whether we like it or not, that would move the elephant in the room: the 80% of people, be it consumers or companies, that remain reluctant and resistant, albeit with some logical reasons like cost and quality 🐘 We need - more than ever - to make doing good less cumbersome and less expensive, and to do so requires us to address the basics like creating economies of scale and delivering superior value 🌟 The power of education cannot be understated as it is with education that people become more aware, critical, and innovative, which are the key attributes needed to deliver the solutions we require to improve the state of the world 🛠 We also need to recognize that though challenges like climate change and poverty resonate globally, the context of these challenges may be very different locally (poverty is greater in rural areas in the global south, which is the opposite in the global north), indicating that what we need are local solutions (rural versus urban) to address global challenges (like poverty)💡 Sunway University Sunway Business School #aclassabove #campuswithaconscience #discoveryourdestiny #livelearnlead #mosthappeningcampus #mosthappeingschool #mosthappeninglecturers #mosthappeningprofessors #mySunwayfamily

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KTPs are a great way for businesses to gain valuable knowledge and skills directly in to your organisation to help further develop growth both inside and external from key academics through research.

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The transformational change required to embed the Sustainable Development Goals into our solutions thinking has rarely been more pressing. We are facing a triple planetary crisis - climate change, declining biodiversity, and increasing pollution. Along with degradation of land, this requires all actors to work together - technology, science, innovation, business, new financial models, using local and shared knowledge and developing innovative policies. Universities have a significant role to play in enabling a new way of thinking for a sustainable future and I am delighted to lead this group as we work together to make progress on these challenging problems.

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A fantastic new report published by the The UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy exploring the importance of having strategic technical leadership with in universities. Some great case studies from Midlands Innovation universities Loughborough University University of Leicester University of Nottingham and University of Warwick highlighting the contributions of Julie Turner-Gosden Gemma Black Kelly Vere MBE and Ian Hancox https://lnkd.in/eFmxvJYH

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Pleased to share an initial Birkbeck, University of London response to the Universities UK 'blueprint for change' Priority asks which we'll be pushing - - Government must look at the potential of a graduate contribution as opposed to a loan system. - The growing regulatory burden is in danger of stifling innovation, and time and thought is needed to ensure that the Office for Students operates in a proportionate manner informed by risk. - There is also a need to build funding and regulatory arrangements that support, rather than penalise, flexibility and lifelong learning. It is imperative that gaps that impede progression between different funding and regulatory regimes under which adults can access education and skills are eradicated.

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I don’t usually write personal thoughts on LinkedIn – perhaps it reflects my vulnerability – However, today, after the Enabling SME event (https://lnkd.in/eX_RxbpM), a mixture of relief, disheartenment and reflection on what to learn and what’s next, I feel I need to spell out some personal feelings and thoughts to be able to sleep! Some might say today’s event wasn't a successful one – there could have been more people, more discussion and more suggestions. Yes, perhaps. Nonetheless, was it meaningful? I would say yes! I have been exploring the concept of ‘meaningfulness’ for my research on meaningful work – this notion can be associated with two occasions, namely, feeling authenticity and the value of action being shared widely (e.g., my action creates meaning not only to me but also to others). Having been feeling ‘authentic’ in this process? Yes! Throughout the process of developing scenario and organising this event aiming at contributing to co-creation of the scenario, I felt authentic interests, enthusiasm and efforts in learning and exploring 1) myself – the bias, pre-conception and assumptions that I have had but was not aware of; 2) the technology – the basic of it, what might be possible or not, what can be done or not, and thus, what might be desirable or not; and 3) experiences of disabled people – the challenges they are facing in their daily life, the future they are hoping and the reality that makes them being sceptical about the hope.  Was the value shared with others? Absolutely! Through this process, I’ve met people who just do kind things simply because they believe the value of what I am doing. Thank you Ingo Frommholz for having been my personal scientific advisor 😉. Julian Gwinnett Wolverhampton School of Creative Industries – you were basically another member of the team, appreciating this event even more than I did! Katy Deacon you value the hope side from our imagination of the possible by sharing this with your contacts even though we haven’t met in person yet - such trust and support of yours in our scenario have been an enormous encouragement for me to keep going...  So what's next? Our scenario building to contribute to InterAct scenario is still ongoing (the scenario and following questions can be found in the link below) and we Marisa Smith Nigel Caldwell Sebastian Pattinson John Oyekan, PhD, CEng, MIET, FHEA, FRSA will consider this experience as the first stepping stone for many more conversations and collaborations to come. Well, I might regret writing a very long honest personal post when I wake up tomorrow – but perhaps, sometimes being vulnerable is just ok… https://lnkd.in/gAJa2-_D

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Kicked off an interesting project with Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on the barriers and enablers to technology adoption. This project will explore the firm and sector level opportunities and challenges faced, to understand the reasons why technological adoption rates in the UK are poor compared to the OECD. The work will add to the existing tech adoption evidence base which consists largely of quantitative data on tech adoption trends with in depth further qualitative research. Lots to think about for now… Working with a great team on this, and drawing on our work with the Innovation & Research Caucus and Technology in Professional Services (TiPS) Accelerator.

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Along today to hear about new quality framework for Universities and Colleges in Scotland #ourtertiaryfuture interested in place of learning design, cross sectoral collaboration and AI. Two very different systems one driven by national occupational standards and one still quite institutionally focused -

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The education and training supply chain are key on a number of fronts to industrial decarbonisation.

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Innovate UK, Opportunity North East Limited and University of Aberdeen are inviting applications to the ICURe Discover North East Scotland programme. This eight-week programme will enable you to explore the commercial potential of your research and innovation and is open to researchers, clinicians and early stage start-ups. Applications are encouraged from individuals and teams within the life sciences and digital sectors and innovation-driven technologies. The programme focus is on market awareness and customer discovery to enable participants to understand whether there is a commercial demand for their science or technology. Past participants have reported that having eight weeks of support and time for customer discovery significantly transformed their perspective on their innovation. Programme participants will work in teams to refine their commercial proposal. The programme is delivered via a one-day in-person and one-day virtual bootcamp followed by eight weeks of early-stage market engagement and customer discovery (total eight weeks part-time). What's included?  - £2,500 support for testing assumptions and market discovery activities  - Two-day training boot camp with part-time market discovery spanning eight-weeks  - Gather market feedback that indicates the next steps, such as entering ICURe - Explore with a team - Access to our team of experts who will proactively connect you to our network of entrepreneurs, investors and funders  - Outline the commercial viability using tools such as the Business Model Canvas (BMC) - Develop an understanding of existing market offerings and the competitive landscape for your sector Applications close on Friday 19th April, with the programme starting on Wednesday 8th May. https://lnkd.in/e9VnXWrj

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Such a good project to learn from... Effective collaboration deploying useful, pioneering and time effective methods to evaluate retrofit quality ten years on

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Are you a business looking to innovate, boost productivity, and gain a competitive edge? Join us at the UWS KTP Associate Seminar 2024 and discover how Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) with University of the West of Scotland can transform your business! 📅 Date: Monday, 1st July 2024 🕒 Time: 0900 – 1300 (including lunch and networking 📍 Location: UWS Paisley Campus, Paisley, PA1 2BE https://lnkd.in/eCRUH5BV ✅ Learn from successful KTP projects: Hear from businesses that have thrived through their partnerships with UWS. ✅ Network with industry leaders and academic experts: Build connections that can propel your business forward. ✅ Discover how to secure funding to support your innovation journey. ✅ Meet talented KTP Associates: Find the right expertise to drive your projects. The KTP program bridges the gap between academia and business, enabling access to emerging knowledge, cutting-edge research and development resources. Whether you're a startup or a well-established company, there's immense potential for growth and development through KTP. Don't miss this chance to see how a partnership with UWS can benefit your business. #Innovation #BusinessGrowth #KTP #UWS #KnowledgeTransfer #Networking #IndustryPartnerships #ResearchAndDevelopment #BusinessEvent UWS KTP Centre

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Please do read this excellent research on the work of advancing social enterprises. And stay tuned for the launch of our statewide network in support of social entrepreneurs- Jersey Changemakers. #SocialEntrepreneurs #JerseyChangemakers

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Brilliant news!! University of Sheffield to partner in 4 new sustainable manufacturing hubs, supported by EPSRC. Four new research hubs aiming to address the challenge of commercialising early stage research within key areas of manufacturing, such as aerospace, medicines and semiconductors, have been launched with academics at the University of Sheffield. The first hub - CSManuHubSust - aims to capitalise on the huge opportunity of compound semiconductor manufacturing, as identified in the UK’s national semiconductor strategy. The researchers will develop energy-efficient opto-electronics for use in key emerging technologies such as quantum. They will expand on the environmental benefits of compound semiconductors by creating new devices, such as mercury-free ‘night vision’ mid-infrared detector arrays and devices that both communicate and illuminate based on integrated transistors and LEDs. The hub is led by Cardiff University in collaboration with Professor Lenny Koh from the University of Sheffield’s Management School. I am honored and delighted to be the Sheffield lead for this hub. Find out more from the link below. #manufacturing #sustainability #semiconductors #aerospace #medicines

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I strongly believe that leading for sustainability means breaking down the silos between climate scientists and future CEOs so they can understand each other’s language and combine their knowledge and perspectives.    Building sustainable organisations requires technical skills, but also management and leadership skills. You need to know how to measure a carbon footprint, but you also need to be able to drive a programme of change to reduce it.   So I am looking forward to contributing to this summer school with our natural and social scientists, that's ideal for those who need a more in-depth understanding of the environmental risks facing their organisation, and how to manage their finances and people to ensure resilient organisations.

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The Newcastle University has exciting news to share! Securing substantial funding is a major win for the future of research and industry expertise: £6M BBSRC funding will pave the way for the North East England Doctoral Landscape (NEEDL), which will foster 100 bioscience doctoral studentships over eight years. - £5.7M EPSRC funding is set to empower 45 doctoral researchers in cutting-edge engineering and physical sciences. - Emphasizing sustainability, the extension of the IAPETUS partnership with NERC will drive environmental research collaborations forward. In the spotlight is Dr. Jennifer Olsen, acknowledged as a WE50 Engineering Hero for her groundbreaking PhD work in advancing prosthetic limb technology. To delve deeper into these remarkable initiatives and their impact, visit the link: https://lnkd.in/gbigBhPE #DoctoralResearch #Innovation #Biosciences #Engineering #Sustainability #NewcastleUniversity #UKRI #STEM #NUMED

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