International Services to Science Education

International Services to Science Education

IPC Irwin Group – Products and Services to Science & Technology across the World

IPC Irwin have a long and fascinating history of support for science education.

IPC, the manufacturer for Griffin & George, now part of Fisher Scientific, one of the oldest companies in the world providing instruments to schools, colleges and universities are still producing equipment to the same high standards, the benchmark for all instrument makers to this day. In 2019 IPC merged with Irwin, once Irwin Desman limited also a designer and manufacture from the 1940’s who supported the UK Government as consultants in the 1960’s in developing the Nuffield science programme, which revolutionised science teaching internationally and is still the backbone of high school science education today.

Since those early days, the principals of secondary school physics, chemistry and biology have developed in line with the technology that IPC Irwin helped to create. The development continues and IPC Irwin are now not only manufacturers of science equipment but experts in STEM /STEAM providing consultancy to Ministries of Education who wish to develop Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, now incorporating Art as part of the Governments objectives for high education, science, medicine, technology and agriculture.

A Unique Package to the World of Education

A major part of our service to Ministries of Education, and international bodies is curriculum development, we help design a bespoke curriculum specifically to meet the needs of the project, we then provide Teacher and Technician Training and match resources precisely to meet the curriculum needs a complete package from conception to implementation of project management.

Our Teacher training packages are sustainable as we develop teacher to become trainers in their own right a, we set up centres of excellence and communication networks between schools so even the most remote, rural schools can obtain support and continuing professional development.

Physics

From primary through secondary and first year teaching in colleges and universities, In all core areas such as Optics, Electricity and Magnetism, Radiation, Dynamics, Measurement and their errors, Particles and Radiation, Waves, Mechanics and Thermal Physics, Fields and their consequences Nuclear physics.

Biology

Biological Molecules, Cells, Organisms exchange substances with their environment, Genetic information, Variation and relationships between organisms, Energy transfers between organisms, Organisms respond to changes in their natural environments, Genetics, populations, evolution and e ecosystems, the control of gene expression.

Chemistry

Stoichiometry. Atomic theory, Periodicity, Bonding States of matter, energetics, Kinetics, equilibrium and more.

STEM /STEAM - Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
– now with the Arts for STEAM

We bring a complete STEM / STEAM programmes together for core subject areas to include lesson planning and management to develop the connectivity across all subject areas.

These concepts are often difficult to grasp, however our Consultants demonstrate and provide management techniques to achieve the objectives within STEAM.

FAB LAB - projects in the Middle East and Europe

We have worked on Fab Lab projects in the Middle East and Europe. Fab Lab, or digital fabrication laboratory, is a place to play, to create, to mentor and to invent: a place for learning and innovation.

Fab Labs provide access to the environment, the skills, the materials and the advanced technology to allow anyone anywhere to make (almost) anything.

Past Projects / Case Studies:

Below are a few projects completed on time and on budget in the UK, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub Saharan Africa and the Far East.

Langley Academy of Science

United Kingdom

IPC Irwin working with Langley Academy of Science

A new school, we supplied all science and technology equipment and provided training for specialist and non-specialist teachers and technicians.

Sydenham High School for Girls

United Kingdom

IPC Irwin working with Sydenham High School for Girls, UK

The school was totally refurbished. We supplied all science and technology equipment and provided training and technical support for teachers and technicians.

Beirut Baptist School

Lebanon

IPC Irwin working with Beirut Baptist School, Lebanon

Completed consultancy and support for developing their science and technology departments which resulted in an award presented to the company.

MARA Colleges

Malaysia

IPC Irwin working with MARA Colleges, Malaysia

Supplied all equipment and resources. Conducted training in technology and science for the MARA group of Colleges.

Ministry of Education

Oman

IPC Irwin working with Ministry of Education, Oman

Project for the Ministry of Education in Oman for the provision of resources, developing science and technology and training teachers and technicians.

Ministry of Education

Ghana

IPC Irwin working with Ministry of Education, Ghana

New School in Ghana.

Ministry of Education

Burkina Faso

IPC Irwin working with Ministry of Education, Burkina Faso

Provision of resources, Teacher & Technician training European Institute.

On Going Projects for the Ministry of Education in the following Countries

  • UK: Science and Technology Teachers and Technicians, National Training launched in September. 
  • UK & International: Launch of CPD Science, Supporting the UK Government in provision of equipment and distance learning during the Covid 19 crisis.
  • Qatar: Distance learning proposal to address the Covid 19 crisis, ongoing projects to create a new curriculum for the Ministry of Education.
  • Angola: Ministry of Education Project proposal for STEM. Training for Technology and Science in twelve schools to be rolled out nationally. 
  • Zimbabwe: Primary and Secondary curriculum development.


Project Portfolio 

2018 – Ongoing Basic STEM Project, Ghana:

Provision of STEM equipment, ICT equipment, teacher training and services including project infrastructure and management, equipment installation, curriculum developments to 100 Junior High Schools in Ghana. Contract awarded for approx. £1m GBP by Ministry of Education, Ghana to Itec Global as sole provider.

  • Develop equipment list to meet Ghanaian Junior High Schools’ science and maths curriculum and to introduce engineering and technology into the curriculum.
  • Develop ‘Train the Trainer’ two-week course to train classroom teachers in practical and investigative teaching of science, engineering and technology and active mathematics with accompanying Trainer Guide.
  • Develop of classroom teacher course to improve practical and investigative teaching of science, engineering and technology and active mathematics.
  • Develop three Junior High Schools manuals for STEM teaching.
  • Delivery of two week Train the Trainer course.
  • Facilitation of delivery of classroom teacher course, by trainers to 100 maths teacher and 100 science teachers.
  • Procure STEM equipment and ICT for 100 schools.
  • Pack, ship and distribute equipment to 100 schools across the country.
  • Install and commission the 100 schools.


 2016 – 2018 World Bank Secondary Education Improvement Programme, Ghana: 

Provision of training and consultancy to support 125 struggling senior high schools improve assessment and pedagogy in science and maths education. Itec works with partners Devotra BV (Netherlands), Itec Project Value approx. £150,000.

Itec directly responsible for: 

  • Develop test item worksheets.
  • Develop training materials for 2 x 2-week training course for mentors in pedagogical techniques, classroom skills, and challenging topics.
  • Deliver 2 x 2 week training to 100 in-service mentors (teachers).
  • Develop system of School-Based Assessment for senior high schools.
  • Develop training materials for 1 week CPD course in School-Based Assessment.
  • Deliver 1 week CPD course in School-Based Assessment or mentors.
  • Development of science and maths Olympiad examinations.
  • Assistance in development long-term maths and science strategy.


Experience of Major successful Past Projects

2015 – 2016 Science Resource Centre Project for Ministry of Education, Ghana: 

Provision of science equipment, ICT and services to include project management, installation, curriculum developments and teacher training aspects to 100 schools in Ghana. Contract awarded for approx £7m GBP by Ministry of Education, Ghana to itec as sole provider. 

  • Develop equipment lists to meet requirements of the West Africa and local Ghanaian Examinations Council.
  • Procure science equipment and ICT for 100 schools.
  • Procure and deliver vehicles for MOE and Field Technicians use.
  • Pack, ship and distribute equipment to 100 schools across the country.
  • Install and commission the 100 schools.
  • Develop training programme for all science teachers from the 100 schools.
  • Train all science teachers in use of science equipment and ICT.
  • Train all science technicians from the 100 schools.
  • Develop 350 worksheets pertinent to the curriculum for use by teachers in their teaching.
  • Develop a manual of resources for science technicians.
  • Eight UK consultants in-country for 2 months over six months to deliver training.
  • Two Field Engineers in-country for 1 year to manage distribution and installation.


2014 Kuwait. Supply of further 24 Science Benches and datalogging sets to Ministry of Education, Kuwait:

This was a follow on to the project completed in 2103. itec directly responsible for: 

  • Evaluation of equipment specified to ensure relevance.
  • Supply of 24 Mobile Science Benches.
  • Supply of 24 sets of dataloggers.
  • Supply of worksheets for experimental kits provided.


2012– 2014 Science Resource Centre Project for Ministry of Education, Ghana:

Provision of science equipment, ICT and services to include project management, installation, curriculum developments and teacher training aspects to 200 schools in Ghana. Contract awarded for approx. £14m GBP by Ministry of Education, Ghana to itec as sole provider.

  • Develop equipment lists to meet requirements of the West Africa and local Ghanaian Examinations Council.
  • Procure science equipment and ICT for 200 schools.
  • Procure and deliver vehicles for MOE and Field Technicians use.
  • Pack, ship and distribute equipment to 200 schools across the country.
  • Install and commission the 200 schools.
  • Develop training programme for all science teachers from the 200 schools.
  • Train all science teachers in use of science equipment and ICT.
  • Train all science technicians from the 200 schools.
  • Develop 350 worksheets pertinent to the curriculum for use by teachers in their teaching.
  • Develop a manual of resources for science technicians.
  • Eight UK consultants in-country for 4 months over a period of year to deliver training.
  • Two Field Engineers in-country for 2 years to manage distribution and installation.


2013-2014 Zimbabwe. Science Kits for ZimScience, Zimbabwe:

A project to provide every one of 2,500 Secondary schools in Zimbabwe with science kits to improve science education. itec worked with partners Devotra BV (Netherlands) and UNICEF to procure, distribute and install the kits. Project value approx. €10M Euros. itec directly responsible for:

  • Design of kits for ZimScience curriculum.
  • Curriculum development of MOE advisory staff.
  • Curriculum worksheet development.
  • Training of MOE trainers.
  • Training of 5,000 science teachers throughout the country.
  • Five UK staff spent 3 months over a 9 month period in-country.


2013 Kuwait. Supply of 108 Science Benches and datalogging sets to Ministry of Education, Kuwait:

Worked with partner company, Eduteq Ltd to supply science upgrade for 108 schools in Kuwait comprising science benches, science equipment and ICT. Project value approx £4M GBP itec directly responsible for:

  • Evaluation of equipment specified to ensure relevance.
  • Supply of 108 Mobile Science Benches.
  • Supply of 108 sets of dataloggers.
  • Supply of worksheets for experimental kits provided.


2009 Nigeria. Supply of 6 Universal Science Benches to Lagos State, Nigeria:

A Pilot project:

  • Supply and installation of Universal Science Benches.
  • Teacher training. 


2008 St. Helena

Review of ICT in education for St Helena, S. Atlantic. itec ltd responsible for the development of a new schools ICT network, teacher training and long term strategic plans, in association with Department for International Development (DFID),UK. 


2007 Nigeria.Supply of 75 Universal Science Benches to Taraba State, Nigeria:

  • Supply 75 USB’s
  • Install & commission Universal Science Benches on site.
  • Train teachers in the management of Universal Science Benches.
  • Develop a training programme for science teachers in recipient schools.
  • Train all science teachers in use of science equipment.
  • Train all teachers in use of ICT in the science curriculum.
  • Develop resource materials for use by teachers.


2004 - 2005 Nigeria Science and ICT Schools Project, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

 A joint approx. £4M GBP project with Philip Harris International to upgrade science facilities and introduce ICT into the science curriculum. itec directly responsible for: 

  • Develop equipment lists to meet requirements of the West Africa Examinations Council.
  • Advise and specify refurbishment of current science laboratories and new build.
  • Advise and specify new ICT facilities for science departments.
  • Develop training programme for all science teachers in Akwa Ibom State.
  • Train all science teachers in use of science equipment.
  • Train all teachers in skills required for using ICT in science.
  • Train all teachers in use of ICT in the science curriculum.
  • Develop resource materials for use by teachers in their teaching.


1995 – 1999 Ghana. Science Resource Centre Project (SRC), Ministry of Education, Ghana, West Africa.

 A £19.5M project to develop and upgrade science facilities and teacher training in Ghana. The contract holder was Findel Ltd, UK who contracted the role of teacher training to itec. itec was responsible for:

  • Develop equipment lists to meet requirements of the West Africa Examinations Council.
  • Specify laboratory refurbishments for all110 Science Resource Centre’s (SRC’s) throughout the country.
  • Develop a 12-week UK based training programme for 10 MoE science advisors and officials.
  • Develop and deliver a series of 6 week training programmes for 330 science teachers in Ghana.
  • Develop and deliver a series of 6 week training programmes for 110 science technicians in Ghana.
  • Train all science teachers and technicians in use of science equipment.
  • Train all teachers and technicians in skills required for using ICT in science.
  • Train all teachers in use of ICT in the science curriculum.
  • Develop and carry out a series of monitoring and evaluation exercises to consider the impact of the project on science education in Ghana.


IPC Irwin have been partners and participants at the Ministerial Conference for Minsters of State for Education, Innovation Africa for the past four years. This is the only conference which brings together Prime Ministers, Presidents and Ministers of State for Education for the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa. Other participants are, Microsoft, HP, IBM, Intel, Cambridge University International Exams, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press all coming together to ensure education is moving with the times.