CBI urges business to help more students into science and technology

CBI : UK global success depends on more and better science graduates

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is calling on businesses to do more to encourage and help young people who want to study science and technology in higher education.

In a new report, Stronger together – businesses and universities in turbulent times, the CBI's Higher Education (HE) Taskforce calls for major, far-reaching changes to maintain the quality of graduates being turned out by the UK's universities.

The employers' organisation says that UK success in the global economy increasingly depends on the development of high value-added sectors in services and manufacturing.

"These in turn will require a highly trained workforce, rich with graduate-level skills," says the report.

CBI HE Taskforce chairman and Centrica chief executive Sam Laidlaw said that although the UK has a world-class higher education sector, it faces some urgent challenges.

"[These include] the changing needs of business, intensifying international competition, and constrained public sector funding. Universities and government cannot deliver a world-class service alone," he said.

The report points out that the UK compares favourably with global competitors on the take-up rate for young people going to university. Undergraduate numbers have risen by 35 per cent since 1997, but the CBI warned that the number of students taking science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) degrees has declined by 20 per cent since 1999-2000. The CBI wants to see more young people continue with these subjects after the age of 16.

"Business must also make a sustained effort in supporting higher education," said Laidlaw.

The report recommends that businesses should work with universities to:

● Sponsor students studying subjects relevant to business, such as science and technology;

● Provide financial support to new graduates, through bonuses when they sign on with the firm;

● Offer more opportunities for internships, placements, work experience or projects;

● View working with universities as part of core innovation activity.

The report warns the price of failure do these things is high.

"Failing to address these challenges will mean an increasingly less competitive economy with businesses finding it harder to recruit the calibre of employee they need from the UK, and looking instead for talent overseas," it says.

"A continued shortage of STEM skills [will see] the UK failing to capitalise on the potential to be world-leaders in sectors such as environmental technology, pharmaceuticals, high value-added manufacturing and financial services."