Science and prosperity

Young people are being inspired to develop in the direction of science- and engineering-based subjects. These are crucial ingredients of the knowledge-based societies upon which our future prosperity depends.

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Joachim von Marschall, Peter Marsh, Edward Krubasik and Vicky Pryce

Combined skills

“High-quality skills are our most valuable asset. We need excellent scientists and engineers in research and development, and we need skilled technicians to manufacture, service and repair high-tech products for world markets. Top-class universities and research institutes must be matched by an effective vocational training system supplying businesses with skilled labour and the trained experts.” Download speech

Prof. Matthew Harrison, Director, Education Programmes, The Royal Academy of Engineering

Children’s choice

“With science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), we now have a skill system increasingly valued by children and their parents. More and more kids are opting for these subjects – that’s the good news. More problematic is that deep cuts and big changes in the skills system are under way. A lot of people are studying lower-level qualifications but we need the right balance with higher-level skills.”

Training as investment

“Training is a form of investment. Not just individuals gain, there are serious external effects too – this is a big area for governments to get involved. During the economic slowdown, unemployment rose less than expected and this is partly because people are better at looking for new jobs. But we need more co-operation between government and industry to sustain the improvement.”

Martin Doel, Chief Executive, Association of Colleges

Principled pragmatism

"We need to change from promoting managerial qualities to promoting vocationalism. At present, academic and theoretical issues are dominant. I support apprenticeships, but we need the right ecosystem to place this in. I envy the German system. But we must recognise that the UK education system is one of the most adaptive in the world. What we need is more principled pragmatism."