Search

The dominant public discourse regarding the recruitment and retention of teachers is one that is often framed in terms such as 'crisis'. Data from the Department for Education, the National Audit Office and bodies such as the Education and Training Foundation highlight challenges in filling vacancies across each part of the education sector. This is particularly acute in subject areas relating to Science, Engineering and Technology (SET). This paper analyses discourses relating to teacher training amongst tri-service personnel in the English context. Sources from publications such as FE Week and CTP (Career Transition Partnership) are addressed. In doing so, the paper compares educational and military sources in order to examine how the representation of a civilian teaching career varies between the two. This is about adding to the wider societal narrative regarding the ways in which military to civilian transition can be aided by the reframing of skills and experience acquired during military service.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of using several commercial tools in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects for enterprise education at Newcastle University, UK. Design/methodology/approach: The paper provides an overview of existing toolkit use in higher education, before reviewing where and how tools are used across science and engineering disciplines. Feedback was collated from Newcastle educators and students to determine whether the projected enterprise learning outcomes were achieved. STEM learning outcomes were also mapped to the NCEE entrepreneurship learning outcomes framework. Findings: The paper investigated the use of three key enterprise toolkits across the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering and the Faculty of Medical Sciences, where the focus is on innovation and product/service development, rather than on the desire to "be an entrepreneur." This reflection on practice evaluates the benefits and student perceptions of workshop tools for enterprise, decision making and teamwork. It makes comparison between the perceived employability needs of these students, and addresses the intended and actual outcomes of these tools. Research limitations/implications: Evaluating toolkit use within a single university is constrained by common internal workings, however as exemplars of good practice this is of value to other UK higher education institutions. Practical implications: Consideration is given to entrepreneurial support and development, and whether using existing tools should be used for summative or for formative assessment. It also questions whether tools are fit for purpose. Originality/value: This paper reveals patterns of tool use and their effectiveness across science and engineering. (Contains 1 figure and 3 tables.)

One of the themes of the recent sociology of higher education has been the globalisation of knowledge and the professional transfer of scientists and researchers. In this paper we show how these transfers of people and knowledge are disproportionately characteristic of: (a) some institutions; and (b) some cost centres. We argue that universities form part of an international labour market for high skilled workers in prestige institutions. However, globalisation also has a second face in relation to labour markets in higher education. This refers to the deployment of overseas junior staff in areas unsupplied by the British system. (Contains 4 tables, 3 figures, and 5 notes.)

Purpose: A smart city is a city that functions in a sustainable and intelligent way, by integrating all of its infrastructures and services in a cohesive way using intelligent devices for monitoring and control, to ensure efficiency and better quality of life for its citizens. As other countries globally, the UK is keen on economic development and investment in smart-city missions to create interest in monetary environment and inward investment. This paper aims to explore the driving forces of smart road transport transformation and implementation in the UK. Design/methodology/approach: The study involved interviews with 16 professionals from the UK road transport sector. A semi-structured interview technique was used to collect experts' perception, which was then examined using content analysis. Findings: The results of the study revealed that the technological advancement is a key driver. The main challenges faced during the implementation of smart-city elements in the UK road network are lack of investment, maintenance, state of readiness and the awareness of the smart road transport concept. The study concludes that an understanding of the concept of smart cities from a road transport perspective is very important to create awareness of the benefits and the way it works. A wider collaboration between every sector is crucial to create a successful smart city. Originality/value: The study contributes to the field of digitalisation of road transport sector. This paper reveals the key driving forces of smart road transport transformation, the current status of smart road transport implementation in the UK and challenges of the smart road transport development in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nineteenth-century Britain is often seen as being the great age of liberalism. It was also a great age of engineering and building. This paper explores the interconnections between liberalism and technology, using Samuel Smiles as its point of departure. Smiles eulogised liberal individualism in Self-Help (1859), and engineers in his multi-volume Lives of the Engineers (1862). In the first part of the paper, I produce a typology of 'liberal objects' - the machine, the network, and the device - paying particular attention to the kinds of human agency such artifacts made possible. In the second part, I connect this typology to the theory of liberalism and its historical practice. Liberalism, I argue, often functioned by using technology to materialise a mode of indirect rule. Machines, networks and devices encouraged a set of practices - productive labour, mobility, health, cleanliness, attention, independence - essential to liberal subjectivity, and were promoted and imagined as such. Considering liberalism as a government of, by and through technology explains why such a supposedly reticent and inactive mode of government became so involved in the regulation of material life. It also explains the origins of the 'technological fix' - the belief that technology is the solution to any social problem - which has become predominant in the West in the twentieth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses the influence of the business environment on the choice of strategy within the UK textile industry. The question raised is whether a more radical strategy such as Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) is required, as opposed to TQM, which makes incremental improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little research has examined the associations between perceived inclusivity within informal science learning sites, youth program belonging and perceptions of program career preparation. This study explored relations between these factors at three timepoints (T1 = start of program, T2 = 3 months and T3 = 12 months after start). Participants were a diverse sample of 209 adolescents participating in STEM youth programs within informal science learning sites situated in the United States and United Kingdom (70% females: Mage = 15.27, SDage = 1.60), with 53.1% British and 64.1% non-White. Path analysis revealed that only perceptions of inclusivity for own social identity group (i.e., gender, ethnicity) at T1 were associated with T2 STEM youth program belonging. There was a significant indirect effect of T1 perceptions of inclusivity for one's own social identity groups on T3 perceptions of program career preparation via T2 program belonging. This study highlights that, over time, perceptions of inclusivity around youth's own social identity groups (i.e., gender and ethnicity/culture) are related to a sense of youth program belonging, which in turn is later associated with perceptions of program career preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Faculty of Engineering at The University of Nottingham, UK, has developed interdisciplinary, hands-on workshops for primary schools that introduce space technology, its relevance to everyday life and the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths. The workshop activities for 7–11 year olds highlight the roles that space and satellite technology play in observing and monitoring the Earth's biosphere as well as being vital to communications in the modern digital world. The programme also provides links to ‘how science works’, the environment and citizenship and uses pixel art through the medium of digital photography to demonstrate the importance of maths in a novel and unconventional manner. The interactive programme of activities provides learners with an opportunity to meet ‘real’ scientists and engineers, with one of the key messages from the day being that anyone can become involved in science and engineering whatever their ability or subject of interest. The methodology introduces the role of scientists and engineers using space technology themes, but it could easily be adapted for use with any inspirational topic. Analysis of learners’ perceptions of science, technology, engineering and maths before and after participating in ENGage showed very positive and significant changes in their attitudes to these subjects and an increase in the number of children thinking they would be interested and capable in pursuing a career in science and engineering. This paper provides an overview of the activities, the methodology, the evaluation process and results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper examines the results of an empirical study into the role of marketing in consulting engineering service firms in the UK. The results suggest that marketing is, to some extent, considered a 'legitimate' management function within these firms. however, evidence can he seen to illustrate that the 'trappings' of marketing prevail rather than the 'substance', which is required if a firm is to have the market-led and customer-driven orientations fundamental to the implementation of the marketing concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UK research and technology organizations (RTOs) compete globally by offering engineering, technology and innovation services. Although associated historically with specific industries, UK RTOs have expanded into nontraditional markets and sectors. This article profiles 15 UK RTOs and we suggest that UK RTOs have unique technology and innovation capabilities, which cut across industrial boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A calendar of events related to engineering and technology in Great Britain is presented. On May 9, 2007, the Annual General Meetings and Thoughts on the Variation in the Glasglow Population's Lifespan will be conducted in Scotland. In Ireland, Technical Visit to Eircom Testing Site will be hosted by John Rutherford on May 3, 2007 at Network Management Centre. Three Gorges and the Power of China will be lectured by Professor Mike Underhill on May 2, 2007 in Southeast England.

The article presents news briefs related to engineering and technology in Great Britain. The Great Britain Ministry of Defense has provided funds for the development of Zephyr unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The House of Commons Defense Committee has assessed the role of UAVs to intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capability. Team Stellar has won a competition to develop an unmanned vehicle system, sponsored from the Ministry of Defense.

The article presents a calendar of events related to engineering and technology in Great Britain. On October 9-10, 2006, the 2nd Annual European Manufacturing Strategies Summit will be held in Germany. Meanwhile, the 2nd IET International Technology and Innovation Conference will be held on October 11-12, 2006 in London, England. On the other hand, the EPSRC Networking Event: The Future of UK Manufacturing will be held on November 17, 2006.

The article presents a calendar of events related to engineering and technology in May 2006 in Great Britain. A lecture "World War 2 German Aeronautical Electronic Technology," will be held on May 11 in Cambridge, England. An Annual Dinners will be held on May 18 and 19 in Channel Islands. A conference "Computational Science and its Applications" will be held on May 8-11 in Scotland.