A Comparison between Current Initiatives to Promote Science and Technology Education in Sweden and the Aspirations for Scotland

Abstract

This paper evolves from work carried out during a consultancy for the European Commission. This consultancy involved liaison with the European Commission at regular meetings in Brussels with representatives from the extended European Union comprising 30 Countries (including the new accession countries). These formed a ‘working group’ which was set up to explore examples of initiatives aimed at increasing recruitment into the fields of Mathematics, Science and Technology and to draw up reports based upon the discussions. As part of the remit a study visit to Sweden was organised to enable evaluation of some of the established and ostensibly, successful initiatives which had been set up to promote greater interest in science and technology. An analysis of recruitment to the field of Science and Technology education in Europe will be shown to be gaining political impetus. The implications of this for both Sweden and Scotland will be considered. Following a brief overview of the Swedish school system, an examination of the current situation in both countries will be explored. Three Swedish initiatives which closely relate to current aspirations for Science and Technology education in Scotland, will be discussed and analysed.