CANDIDATES in Hampshire spelled out their pledges for engineering, sciences and education at a hustings event at the University of Southampton Science Park.
The event, chaired by Daily Echo editor-in-chief Ian Murray, followed on from a presentation by Geoff Baker, vice president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, who laid out the organisation’s pledges to boost the sector and called on all candidates to support it.
Conservative Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North), Green Ian Callaghan (Romsey and Southampton North), Labour’s Rowenna Davis (Southampton Itchen), UKIP’s Sandra James (Romsey and Southampton North) and Lib Dems Mike Thornton (Eastleigh) and Ben Nicholls (Romsey and Southampton North) attended the event and spoke about education, science and engineering subjects and the NHS.
Mr Callaghan said his party would scrap tuition fees and would offer a referendum on membership of the European Union to “get the question settled”, while Mr Thornton argued that it is important to start a culture shift to get more female engineers.
Daily Echo editor Ian Murray hosted the event
Ms James said her party would offer free tuition fees for engineering students and Ms Davis said companies should partner up with universities and colleges more to help students.
Calling for the status of science, engineering and technology to be improved in schools Ms Nokes said: “We all know geekism is cool and we need to promote that in school.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel