Engaging with mathematics: how mathematical art, robotics and other activities are used to engage students with university mathematics and promote employability skills

There has been much discussion about what exactly employability skills are for mathematics students and how they can be embedded, promoted and developed in mathematics curricula. Mathematics graduates are highly employable and are valued for their reasoning skills, analytical and logical approaches to problem solving, and their abstract thinking. It is the more general employability skills that are more difficult to promote in a mathematics specific context within programmes. When designing the BSc and MMath Mathematics programmes at Middlesex University the team considered how to develop and enhance employability skills whilst promoting and engaging students with all aspects of mathematics. In this paper we will discuss the types of skills developed, the activities used to promote them, and reflect on the successes and challenges of the venture. Additionally we will discuss plans for future development and enhancement of the initiative