Increased recruitment and better quality instruction in MST. A joint promotion of MST in Norway

In April 2008 the PLA in Norway looked at two national strategies (2002-2007 and 2006-2009) aiming at promoting recruitment and better quality instruction in MST.

The strong links between research and the in-service training of teachers, as well as classroom practice, are a major strength of the Norwegian Centre of Science Education and the National Centre for Mathematics Education that was very appreciated by the Cluster.

 

 

The general objective of the PLA was to show how Norway is addressing several of the challenges as to MST especially as to the lack of recruitment of students in the field of MST in higher education and subsequently the lack of MST competencies in industry, business and research.

Norway is currently facing a situation where the needs of the society and working life for expertise in mathematics and a number of natural science and technological fields are not being met. This is serious and will be a barrier to a positive trend for innovation and for working life and the society in general.

 

A sub-objective of this PLA was to show to the European experts, members of the MST cluster, how the Norwegian government is addressing the problems and implementing solutions.

 

Another sub-objective was also to allow time for exchanges of ideas and expertise between the participating experts on these questions. This confrontation lead to useful cross-fertilisation.

 

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