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Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education

There remains a perceived shortage of graduates with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills. CIHE participates on the Government’s STEM High Level Strategy Group to review current policies and actions and the effect they have in changing young people’s perceptions and decisions on courses to study.

STEM graduates underpin our knowledge intensive service businesses as well as most science based organisations. We need graduates with strong maths and science capabilities to power the businesses of the future in the UK, in the City of London and beyond.

STEM Graduates not in STEM jobs
There is plenty of evidence that many graduates of STEM subjects do not go into STEM occupations. This is despite many STEM employers reporting a strong demand for STEM graduates and shortfalls in their recruitment, and the apparently high returns available to graduates going into STEM occupations.

Commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), CIHE is working with CRAC and NICEC to understand better the reasons why many STEM graduates do not go into STEM jobs.

  • Publications

    • The Demand for STEM Graduates and Postgraduates

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    • The Demand for STEM Graduates: some benchmark projections

      New research jointly commissioned by CIHE with DIUS and the Engineering Technology Board (ETB) from the University of Warwick on benchmark projections about business requirements for STEM skills. It reveals that, based on past employment figures, demand for STEM graduates and postgraduates will grow significantly faster than the average for all subject groups.
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    • STEM the critical shortage of wealth creators

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    • Submission: Demand for STEM Graduates and Postgraduates

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    • STEM: the Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths Supply Chain

      This review examines the actions taken to implement previous Government commissioned reports on increasing the supply of STEM graduates and what further steps might be taken. 
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    • The STEM Skills Supply Chain: A Review of Progress since Roberts

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  • Submissions

    • The Demand for STEM Graduates and Postgraduates

      This Briefing Note summarises our latest analysis of the shortage of STEM skills and the need for action by employers, universities, schools and the government to achieve sustainable change in the numbers of young people and then A-level entries into STEM subjects. A sustained effort is needed to change attitudes to STEM subjects and careers.
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    • DIUS Science and Innovation Strategy

      The CIHE submission to DIUS on the development of their science and innovation strategy highlights a number of cross-cutting themes the CIHE has been working on recently, including public procurement, ensuring graduates have appropriate skills, upskilling the capabilities of small firms, attracting overseas talent to UK universities, and building clusters of research excellence.
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    • The Post-14 Mathematics Inquiry

      CIHE's response to the Government Inquiry into post mathematics education that is chaired by Professor Adrian Smith.
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  • Additional Resources