IChemE welcomes UK Government’s positive action in maths education
17th April 2023
The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) welcomes the UK Government’s announcement to carry out an expert-led review to ensure that all pupils in England study some form of mathematics until the age of 18, recognising its underlying importance to disciplines such as chemical engineering.
As mathematics is a fundamental requirement for studying chemical engineering, IChemE would welcome new policies which attract more students to continue studying mathematics and other STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects to a higher standard, leading to proportionately more students taking up careers in science and engineering. To achieve these targets, the Institution calls for a greater emphasis on understanding the current skills gaps and investment in new resources, including teaching staff, to ensure any new policies are implemented successfully.
With the global focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is an increasing need to attract high quality students on to chemical engineering programmes, including degree programmes and industry apprenticeships, so that they can in turn help increase the discipline’s contribution to individual SDGs. Chemical engineers’ system thinking approach means the profession is perfectly placed to develop fully scalable and sustainable solutions across a variety of different sectors including energy, water treatment and food and drink manufacturing.
A thorough understanding of the key principles of different processes studied within chemical engineering including heat and mass transfer, chemical thermodynamics, reaction engineering and fluid flow can only be developed through the sound fundamentals of mathematics. Through training programmes aligned to the SDGs and collaborations with academic and industry partners, IChemE is at the forefront of developing specialist skills for future chemical engineers to contribute to a sustainable future.
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Contact
For more information please contact:
Lucy Cook, Communications Manager, IChemE
t: +44 (0) 1788 534454
e: lcook@icheme.org
Claire Shepherd, Communications Executive, IChemE
t: +44 (0) 1788 534457
e: cshepherd@icheme.org
What is chemical engineering?
Chemical, biochemical and process engineering is the application of science, maths and economics in the process of turning raw materials into everyday, and more specialist, products. Professional chemical engineers design, construct and manage process operations all over the world. Energy, pharmaceuticals, food and drink, synthetic fibres and clean drinking water are just some of the products where chemical engineering plays a central role.
IChemE
The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) advances chemical engineering's contribution worldwide for the benefit of society. We facilitate the development of chemical engineering professionals and provide connections to a powerful network of around 30,000 members in more than 100 countries.
We support our members in applying their expertise and experience to make an influential contribution to solving major global challenges, and are the only organisation permitted to award Chartered Chemical Engineer status and Professional Process Safety Engineer registration.