Science educators converged on King’s on 26 February to celebrate the launch of the new STEM Education MA programme. Combining perspectives from science, technology, engineering and maths, they joined artist Jim Bond in exploring ways of re-imagining the discoveries of Rosalind Franklin and the workings of the human body, with attendees able to experience a number of hands-on exhibits.

The new MA, launching in September 2019, will provide a national, international and practically-oriented understanding of the ways in which core debates across formal and informal STEM education can shape response to pressing social and environmental questions.

Tech company Wipro has supported King’s College London in developing the curriculum for the course and will also offer 15 scholarships to cover up to 70% of tuition fees, to ensure accessibility of the course for diverse cohorts of in-service teachers and educators from the United Kingdom. Students will benefit from studying with leading education researchers and internship opportunities through King’s College London’s associate organisations.

Professor Beatrice Szczepek Reed, Head of The School of Education, Communication & Society, King’s College London, said, “The course will focus on essential STEM knowledge as well as emerging fields, such as Environmental Education and Makerspaces. Wipro’s support for the Masters in STEM Education means that we can make the degree accessible to STEM teachers from across the country and from diverse backgrounds. By working together, Wipro and King’s are addressing the shortage of STEM expertise in the UK economy and the development of its outstanding teachers.”

National and international interest in encouraging STEM subject uptake and career pathways has increased over the last decade, driven by concerns over the shortfalls in filling technical and professional roles across a range of engineering, science and technology-related sectors. The partnership will help address these concerns by generating more interest in STEM subjects, developing higher standards of teaching, and investing in teacher retention, especially in the national ‘social mobility cold spots’.

The Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CRESTEM) at King’s is one of the largest, highly regarded research centres of its kind in the UK. Driven by the concerns surrounding the skills needed by future generations and to address the challenges of environmental sustainability, CRESTEM recognises that whilst urgent, the response required is complex, necessitating an understanding of the interrelationships between the separate STEM subjects alongside new pedagogical approaches across the variety of STEM-related contexts. 

More information about the Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CRESTEM) 

Contact: Dr Melissa Glackin, melissa.glackin@kcl.ac.uk