Enhancing Science Teaching in Schools

There is a strong demand yet dwindling supply of professionals capable of working in science-related fields. This Laboratory aims to address this challenge by increasing the interest among students to pursue science and math-related studies. This will be achieved through collaboration between companies, steering groups and the development of frameworks to ensure continued collaboration.

Leader Facilitator
IBM CSR Europe

CSR Europe members and Laboratory participants can access additional information in the members' area.

Project Description

In line with the European Strategy for growth and jobs, this project has the objective to address the need for highly skilled graduates in natural sciences, computer science and engineering, thereby contributing to the enhancement of science education across Europe. The project aims to use the expertise and resources of companies to support the policies and strategies of European governments to increase the number of students studying the science subjects at university level, particularly through work with schools.

The Laboratory will focus on the expertise and resources of companies to support science teaching in schools, drawing on current programmes and resources already available from companies. It will promote collaboration across the many companies who are already active in this area, to increase the value of current contributions and their accessibility to schools.

Key beneficiaries are schools, teachers, local education authorities, Ministries of education and ultimately companies through a pool of qualified candidates for recruitment.

Objective

The Laboratory addresses the need to increase the number of graduates in science engineering and maths.

Interim progress toward these goals are found in the Science in Schools Flyer (pdf)

Deliverables

  • Network groups in 10 EU-member states
  • New Teacher Professional Development Resources
  • Models for Collaboration

Lab Leader

IBM

Facilitator

CSR Europe

European Steering Group

IBM, Volvo, EADE, DG Education & Culture, European Schoolnet, and Volkswagen

Company Participants

Autostadt, BASF, GDF SUEZ, Intel, Microsoft, Cargill, Solvay, Rolls-Royce, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Vattenfall, Pfizer, Dassault Systemes, Toyota UK

Contact Information

Ben Davies, CSR Europe
+32 02 541 1616
bd@csreurope.org

Milestones

  • April 2007: Project Outline
  • May 2007: Confirm company and other stakeholder's participation, and viability of the programme at European level
  • 14 May 2007: Workshop
  • July 2007: Confirm country level groups
  • October 2007: Programme through to the end of 2008 scoped for Europe and country level activities
  • February 2008: Engineers Week launched across Europe
  • 19 June 2008: CSR Europe's General Assembl
  • 4 December 2008: European Alliance Event - dissemination of the Lab outputs