AMSI:  Increases in Undergraduate Numbers in Science and Engineering Insufficient to Overcome Skill Shortages in Maths and Stats. (May 2, 2012)

The Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI) has released a statement in response to the government's The Demand Driven System: Undergraduate Applications and Offers which : "reports on the increase in enrolments in science (7.0%) and engineering (7.8%) courses, but does not discuss the uptake of specific disciplines within these areas that are critical to Australian innovation and competitiveness".

AMSI goes on to note that in fact workforce numbers in mathematics and statistics are declining while "demand for mathematics and statistics PhD graduates is tipped to increase by 55% on 2008 levels by 2020". Furthermore, "It is highly unlikely that there will be a 7% growth in students graduating with a major in mathematics or statistics, and even fewer will complete postgraduate study. This means that the new growth in undergraduate science enrolments is well below the rate required to meet future demand. The chronic shortage of school mathematics teachers will also remain a problem".

A forum held this past February by AMSI in February this year identified an urgent need for a concerted, multi-scale approach to boosting participation in mathematics at all levels in the education system and AMSI is hoping that funding for a concerted, multi-scale approach to boosting participation in mathematics at all levels in the education system will be made available when the budget is announced next week.