Projects

Undergraduate Physics Inquiry

Introduction

Conscious of the many profound changes in British undergraduate scientific education over the past decade, the Council of the Institute of Physics initiated in October 2000 an Inquiry into the provision of university physics courses in British universities. It looked at student and employer demand for physics courses, delivery and content of existing courses, and issues relating to resources and access, identifying actions necessary both to maintain and improve the provision of physics in higher education.

Terms of Reference

To review the nature, content and delivery of university physics courses, with due regard to:

Demand

• The intellectual vitality of physics and its ongoing contribution to society.
• The demand for physics courses, including four year honours degrees.
• Bachelors degrees, sub-degree qualifications, combined honours programmes and service teaching, at universities by students.
• The demand for, and the range of careers entered into by, physics graduates.
• Demand for, and supply of, teachers of physics in schools and colleges

Delivery and Content

• The changing nature of post-16 education, and the differing pre-university educational experiences of all undergraduates, including mature students.
• The changing nature of undergraduate physics courses.
• The training of teachers of physics for schools and colleges.
• The Institute's requirements for accreditation of degrees and awarding of Chartered Physicist status.
• The impact of the Quality Assurance Agency on the delivery of physics undergraduate teaching.

Resources and Access

• The funding of, and resources for, teaching in university physics departments and the financial position of physics departments.
• The balance of public and personal funding for physics undergraduates.
• The scale, nature, diversity and distribution of undergraduate physics in the UK.

Panel Membership

• Chair: Sir Peter Williams, President, Institute of Physics, and Master, St Catherine's College, University of Oxford
• Professor Mick Brown, Professor of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
• Professor Gillian Gehring, Professor of Physics, University of Sheffield
• Dr Jessica James, London Head, Strategic Risk Management Advisory, Bank One
• Dr Alun Jones, Chief Executive, The Institute of Physics
• Professor Jon Ogborn, Institute of Education, University of Sussex, and Professor Emeritus, Institute of Education, London University, Project Director, Advancing Physics
• Professor Stuart Palmer, Head, Department of Physics, University of Warwick
• Ms Helen Reynolds, Head of Physics, Gosford High School, Kidlington
• Dr Eddie Slade, Chair, Institute of Physics Degree Accreditation Committee
• Dr Bruce Smith, Chairman, Economic and Social Research Council
• Professor David Wallace, Vice-Chancellor, Loughborough University

Publications

Full report

Statistical annex

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