Programme Aims, Objectives and Results

Programme Aims

• The Chemistry for our Future programme is designed to ensure a strong and sustainable chemical science base within higher education and provide a sound basis for the continued success of chemistry-using companies and UK plc.  
• The Chemistry for our Future programme aims to ensure that there is a robust and sustainable HE Chemistry community across England which provides chemical science courses that are appropriate for the students and employers of the 21st Century.  Through sharing good practice and seeking alternative funding routes the programme could be extended across the UK.
• The Chemistry for our Future programme will build on the achievements of the HEFCE funded Aimhigher Project Chemistry: The Next Generation both to increase and widen participation in chemistry in HE, and to increase the number of students who have the ability, aspiration and confidence to study chemical sciences at undergraduate level.  The programme will seek to work with organisations involved in the support and promotion of STEM subjects and ensure a cohesive and co-ordinated approach within and across regions.    

Programme Objectives

• To work with schools, colleges, industry and HE around the country promoting chemical sciences as a stimulating and profitable career route. To engage in activities targeting the entire range from primary school to age 19, including minority ethnic students and students from families with no experience of HE.
• To raise the aspirations of school pupils, and widen and significantly increase participation in HE chemical sciences courses for target groups that are currently under-represented, thereby securing many more entrants into chemical sciences HE and thus sustaining chemistry as a "strategic subject". 
• To improve liaison and hence understanding across the key educational interfaces (primary, secondary, tertiary and employment)
• To ensure the best use of university chemistry laboratories and staff to deliver effective and efficient use of resources and provide good value for money.
• To review and develop HE teaching and learning (curriculum development) to ensure fitness for purpose with regard to educational outcomes for student participants and providing the skills and training needed by employers in both the chemical and non-chemical sectors.
• To explore opportunities for progression from vocational routes.
• To provide a cohesive set of opportunities for teachers and students by working with the wide range of organisations and initiatives already involved in STEM initiatives.  
• To raise awareness of the key role chemists play in the development of a sustainable future for all and to demonstrate that chemists provide many of the solutions for the issues that will be faced in the 21st Century.    

Programme Results

By meeting the objectives above the programme will:

• Produce more chemical science graduates with greater skills for employability. 
• Provide socio-economic opportunity for disadvantaged students.
• Raise overall science literacy levels.
• Support teachers by increasing the motivation and interest of their students.
• Improve positive media coverage for chemical sciences.
• Encourage continued inward investment in chemical-based industry in the UK.
• Encourage particular ethnic groups currently under-represented in chemistry.