The Conversation has published an article by CaMS supporter, Dr Neil Saunders, in which he explores the growing inaccessibility of maths degrees and the problems this is creating for business, government and innovations.
He notes that the number of students studying maths has remained relatively static over the past 10 years, yet the number of maths students at Russell Group has continued to rise, squeezing the number of spaces available to study maths at lower-tariff institutions.
Saunders writes: “this trend in degree-level mathematics education is worrying. It restricts the accessibility of maths degrees, especially to students from poorer backgrounds who are most likely to study at universities close to where they live. It perpetuates the myth that only those people who are unusually gifted at mathematics should study it – and that high-level maths skills are not necessary for everyone else.”
He goes on to note that: "mathematics has been fundamental in recent technological developments such as quantum computing, information security and artificial intelligence. A pipeline of more mathematics graduates from more diverse backgrounds will be essential if the UK is to remain a science and technology powerhouse into the future.”
Read the full article here.
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