Education figures encouraging

Manufacturing News, Source : TheManufacturer.com
Published : 26 Apr 2007 10:14
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Science and engineering subjects seem to be striking a chord with young people, who are applying for university places in record numbers

Figures published by UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, show that the number of young people applying for higher education places are at record levels, up 6 per cent on last year. But of greater interest to the manufacturing sector, the numbers applying for strategic subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology, technology, engineering and foreign languages such as French, German and Japanese have increased significantly.

EEF director general, Martin Temple, said: "These figures give cause for optimism that the campaign to reverse the decline in science and engineering graduates may be bearing fruit. However, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels given the relentless manner in which our competitors are producing graduates of increasing quality.

"As a nation our future is tied to our knowledge base and the focus on innovation. We must make sure that all young people are aware of the benefits, both financial and personal, that a technology related degree can bring, to ensure we have the supply of higher level skills that the economy needs."

 

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