A presentation from the STEM Annual Conference 2014.
Mathematics and Statistics form vital components of study for students from a range of undergraduate disciplines yet many struggle as they make the transition from school to university. In response to this well documented problem there has been significant activity within the higher education sector to provide support opportunities and resources to enable students to address their mathematical difficulties; this has been complemented by programmes of national activity and research to help the sector better understand and more effectively address the difficulties students face. In 2005 the sigma Centre for Excellence in University Wide Mathematics and Statistics Support was established at Loughborough and Coventry Universities and with support from the National HE STEM Programme (2009-2012) sigma was able to extend its activities to include the development of a national mathematics and statistics support network across England and Wales. The recent announcement (November 2013) of a period of further investment for sigma by the Higher Education Funding Council for England means that sigma will be able to maintain the national mathematics and statistics support network it has established for a further three years. This talk will discuss the plans and priorities of the sigma network and the activities it will undertake between 2013 and 2016; it will also highlight the opportunities that English higher education institutions will have to engage with its work.
