NEW MATHS QUALIFICATION DEVELOPED FOR FUTURE ENGINEERS

The importance of a new qualification designed to equip students with the mathematical skills needed to study engineering at degree level has been recognised by the university admissions body, UCAS. The Maths for Engineering qualification has been awarded 90 UCAS points, compared to the 60 points awarded to a traditional AS Level qualification. What’s more, the new qualification has been developed with the help of engineering academics and practitioners and has the backing of the Engineering Diploma Development Partnership (EDDP), which includes the Royal Academy of Engineering and six Sector Skills Councils – Cogent, EU Skills, Go Skills, The Institute of the Motor Industry, Semta and SummitSkills. “The Maths for Engineering qualification was launched in September and it has already attracted significant interest from schools and colleges across the UK,” said Graham Lane, Chair of the EDDP. Rather than asking students to remember abstract formulae, the new qualification, awarded by Oxford Cambridge RSA Examinations (OCR), tests students on real scenarios based on modern engineering principles. “This presents students with the ideal opportunity to study for a qualification that is directly relevant to engineering studies at HE level and the needs of employers,” Mr Lane added. The qualification has also been recognised by Cambridge University, which insists that students applying to study engineering after completing the increasingly popular Diploma in Engineering, have also studied Maths for Engineering as a part of the course. Commented Dr Geoff Parks, Senior Lecturer in Engineering at Cambridge University: “The Mathematics for Engineering Level 3 Certificate promises to be better preparation for studying Engineering at university than Maths A-level. “Its unique selling point is the fact that the mathematical skills and knowledge it imparts are taught and assessed in the context of real-world engineering applications.” Added Philip Whiteman, Chief Executive of Semta, the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies: “Ensuring the next generation of engineers are equipped with the most appropriate skills will be crucial if the UK is to maintain its position as a world leader in manufacturing. This new qualification will go a long way towards filling skills gaps identified by employers.” - E N D S –

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