The sigma Directors are delighted to announce that Michael Grove, Director of the STEM Education Centre at the University of Birmingham, has agreed to work with sigma as an Associate Director. Michael brings with him an extensive understanding of the MSOR and wider STEM arenas. He was the Director of the National HE STEM Programme, where his responsibilities included its overall strategic direction at a national policy level. Prior to this, Michael was Assistant Director of the HEA’s MSOR Subject Centre.

His role as sigma Associate Director will focus on assisting with some key work packages, including the regional postgraduate tutor training workshops, as well as the preparation and implementation of a high level sector needs analysis. In addition, Michael will continue to be a proactive national champion of mathematics and statistics support activity and of sigma.

sigma Director, Professor Duncan Lawson said “We are thrilled that Michael has agreed to be involved with the latest sigma project. Alongside his experience, he brings energy, enthusiasm and dynamism to everything he does and he will help to ensure successful outcomes for sigma’s current work.”

Michael said “I am delighted to accept this role with sigma. The national sigma Network was established through the National HE STEM Programme, and seeing the network not only sustained but also continuing to develop and grow reaffirms our decision to work with sigma in the early days of the Programme; the excellent work of sigma throughout the Programme in sharing and encouraging best practice was exactly what we set out to achieve. I benefitted greatly from sigma’s support when developing the University of Birmingham Mathematics Support Centre and I am delighted to be able to help others in a similar way.“