The Value of Studying STEM Subjects

Bishop Ramsey SchoolRuislip

Vince Pizzoni Nov 19th

The Importance of STEM

• James Dyson: Britain produced 12,000 engineering graduates a year – and there are currently 54,000 vacancies. It’s predicted that in two years time there will be 200,000 vacancies.

• CBI: We estimate that about 450,000 future new jobs will require higher technical skill levels across science, technology and engineering between now and 2020.

What Subjects are needed?• Depends on future studies/career• Need to carefully check university entry

requirements• Example: Medicine-Chemistry, Biology, Physics• Example: Mechanical Engineering-Physics, Maths• Example: Chemical Engineering-Maths, Chemistry• Work experience• Courses• Projects

STEM Subject Skills• Analytical: Research a topic, develop a project plan and draw conclusions from research

results.• Scientific: Break down complex systems, recognize cause and effect and defend opinions

using facts.• Mathematical: Calculation and measurement.• Attention to detail: Follow standards, record accurately, write instructions.• Technical: Troubleshoot problems, debug systems, and stay current. • General: Understanding of the world around you. Soft Skills:• Communication and cooperation skills to listen to customer needs or interact with

project partners.• Creative abilities to solve problems and develop new ideas.• Leadership skills to lead projects or help customers.• Organization skills to keep track of complex, diverse information.

Medicine/Dentistry/

VetEngineers

Energy/Engineering/

Industrial

STEM Careers FMCG/Retail

Finance/Accountancy

Others egLaw/

Politics

Public Sector/Education/

NGOs

Sales/Marketing

Technology/Research

Job Types Consultant/Recruitment

Analyst/Trading

Operations/Supply

Teaching/Lecturer

Money isn’t everything but……• Dentistry: £30,681• Chemical Engineering: £28,992• Medicine: £28,862• General engineering: £27,221• Mechanical engineering: £26,175• Economics: £26,146• Veterinary medicine: £26,045• Aeronautical engineering: £25,061• Materials technology: £24,707• Electrical and electronic engineering: £24,506Source: The Times (September 2013)

Profile-1

• BSc Chemical Engineering• Oil and Gas Company: Petroleum/Reservoir

Engineer/Economics Engineer• Energy Consultant: Senior Consultant• Lloyds Bank: Technical Advisor/Oil and Gas• KPMG: Head of Advisory Upstream Practice

Profile-2

• MA Neuroscience• PhD Experimental Psychology• Charitable Sports Trust: Development Officer• Deloitte: Auditor-Energy/Infrastructure>

Chartered Accountant• Small Oil and Gas Company: Group Financial

Controller and Finance Manager, Kurdistan

Profile-3

• BSc Biochemistry• Major Pharmaceutical Company: Scientist• Boutique Investment Bank: Analyst• Ernst and Young: Assistant Director• Morgan Stanley: Associate• MBA

Profile-4

• BSc Mechanical Engineering• MSc Cognitive Science and Natural Language• MBA• University: Lecturer and Researcher• Andersen Consulting: Consultant• Booz: Senior Associate• Small Oil and Gas Company: COO• Oilfield Service Company: CEO

Profile-5

• BSc Geophysical Studies• PhD Exploration Geophysics• MBA• British Gas/Amoco: Geoscientist• Booz Allen: Management Consultant• Goldman Sachs: VP Oil and Gas• Small Oil and Gas Company: Founder/CFO• Mid size Oil and Gas Company: CEO

Profile-6

• MA Natural Sciences• PhD Organic Chemistry• University: Research Fellow• Shell: Sales, Trader, Brand/Marketing Manager• Boutique Consultancy: Strategy Consultant• Carbon Trust: Head of Financial Products• MSc• GE: Global Head of Marketing

Profile-7

• MA Maths• PhD Applied Maths• Schlumberger: Field Engineer> Field Service

Manager> Operations Manager> VP• Major Oilfield Services: Division President• Major Oilfield Services: VP Global• Energy Private Equity: MD

Summary

• STEM subjects open up a vast range of higher education and career opportunities

• They also develop a breadth of transferable skills• In a world in which the UK’s competitive

advantage will depend increasingly on innovation and high-value products and services, it is essential that we raise the level of our STEM skills. (Lord Sainsbury-The Race to the Top)

Useful Links

• http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/uploads/STEM-briefing.pdf

• http://www.wisecampaign.org.uk/files/useruploads/files/wise_stats_document_final.pdf

• http://www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/• http://www.stemnet.org.uk/• http://www.cbi.org.uk/media/1051530/cbi__edi_

education___skills_survey_2011.pdf

• http://www.rsc.org/images/sainsbury_review051007_tcm18-103116.pdf