Chris McDonald, the newly appointed science minister, sparked debate among university leaders this week by emphasizing the superior personal, social, and economic value of science, engineering, and mathematics degrees. Speaking at the Universities UK annual conference in Nottingham, McDonald called on undergraduates to pursue disciplines that he said are more likely to lead to “successful and prosperous careers,” a stance that was met with mixed reactions from academic officials.
McDonald, who is the first member of the Royal Academy of Engineers to enter Parliament, noted the apparent underrepresentation of engineering professionals in political roles, encouraging more engineers and scientists to consider public service. “There are loads of people there who should sit in parliament and they’re not,” he said. His own academic background includes a BA and a master’s degree in engineering from Churchill College, Cambridge, which he completed in 2000.
The minister’s remarks drew responses from vice-chancellors present, including Wendy Larner, a social scientist and head of Cardiff University, and Andrew Jones, president of Brunel University and an economic geographer. Malcolm Press, president of Universities UK, raised concerns about the relative emphasis on STEM subjects at the expense of the humanities. Press highlighted that half of the current Cabinet had degrees in arts and humanities, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who holds an English degree. “So, who’s championing those?” he asked.
In response, McDonald acknowledged the value of the arts and humanities in personal life, identifying himself as a musician, but underscored his responsibility as science minister to advocate primarily for STEM fields. “I’m the science minister and I will be making the case,” he said.
Jacqui Smith, the universities minister and a graduate in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE), underscored the broader importance of humanities and social sciences for national identity and societal cohesion. She noted that while PPE has long been a feeder degree for political leadership, including figures like David Cameron and Peter Mandelson, disciplines across the humanities and social sciences remain central to understanding the country’s values, history, and community building. Smith affirmed her commitment to supporting research and education in these areas.
Beyond these discussions, McDonald indicated forthcoming changes in research funding strategy. Referring to ambitions outlined by the prime minister to align science more closely with industrial development, he suggested that UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) would concentrate resources on fewer but larger and longer-term projects. “UKRI will back a smaller number of bigger, longer-term investments,” he said, aiming to strengthen both industrial capacity and scientific discovery in the UK.
The conference underscored ongoing tensions in higher education policy between promoting STEM subjects as drivers of economic growth and safeguarding the diverse academic fields that contribute to a well-rounded society.