STEM Careers Programme
Our Science Oxford STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Careers Programme is designed to create opportunities for secondary school students to gain the information, knowledge and skills that could springboard them into a STEM career. We run STEM Career Days (years 7 to 9), STEM Insight Weeks (year 10) and STEM Work Experience Placements (years 11 and 12). We also celebrate and champion students’ hard work, commitment and enthusiasm in science at our Young Scientists of the Year Awards (year 13).
Our STEM Careers Programme aims to address many of the issues that face employers and schools across our region, including:
- a lack of STEM-skilled young people coming through education and into employment
- a lack of awareness of the type of career opportunities available in STEM
- girls are less likely to choose STEM subjects than boys at A-level and beyond
- science as an aspiration, ranks below business as a viable career opportunity for students
- students with low ‘science capital’ are less likely to have a STEM career
- there’s an on-going shortfall of STEM-skilled workers in Oxfordshire and UK-wide
Become a business partner
The STEM Careers Programme enables businesses to engage with young people through in-school workshops, site visits and talks, and work experience placements. Taking into consideration your desired level of commitment, Science Oxford can provide your staff with the training, opportunities and connections you need to work effectively with local schools. We can work with you to develop activities and facilitate your participation in events. For more information about our STEM Careers Programme, contact [email protected]
Event sponsorship
Science Oxford delivers an extensive programme of school outreach and special events that reaches over 20,000 young people annually. Opportunities exist to sponsor of many of our activities, ranging from in-kind donations such as prizes or event space to financial donations to cover costs and staff volunteering. To discuss sponsorship opportunities please contact our Science Oxford team [email protected]
Case Study: Beard Construction
As the lead contractor on our Science Oxford Centre and Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington, Beard Construction is committed to working with local schools to raise awareness of careers in the construction industry. Year 9 students at Cheney School visited the site in 2019 to learn about construction methods, sustainability and ecology as part of their Design and Technology GCSE coursework.
Case Study: Engineering challenge
Four businesses in our region completed a year-long project with students at Matthew Arnold School to raise their awareness of engineering and careers in the industry. Volunteers from Abbott Diabetes Care, Viridor, Element 6 and GKN worked with selected groups of students to complete an engineering challenge related to their business area.
Case Study: Programme Support – GE and Oxford PV
The STEM Summer Experience is an essential part of the secondary school programme. Year 12 and 13 students gain valuable careers and hands-on experience in the world of STEM. Financial and in-kind support from sponsors GE Healthcare and Oxford PV has been integral to the growth of the secondary school programme over the past two years.
Project support
Science Oxford can provide support to businesses who want to establish links with a particular school or who wish to develop a specific project related to their specialism. The Science Oxford team has extensive experience in developing engaging hands-on activities on specific topic areas and for particular audiences. Please talk to us if you have an idea that you would like to explore.
Employer Awards
We really value the contribution that businesses make to our STEM Careers programme. Without their support, we would not be able to offer the wide range of workplace experiences for secondary school students that we do. To say thank you, we have created Science Oxford Employer Awards, which recognise businesses for their contributions to the programme. To qualify for an award, the business needs to engage with secondary school students through one or more of our in-school workshops, workplace visits or by hosting a placement student. For more information on how you can participate in the Employer Award, please contact [email protected]