University Skills Centre
Numeracy
More than maths...
Sometimes called numerical literacy, numeracy is a skill that goes
beyond knowledge of numbers or mathematics. Like language literacy, numeracy
involves logical reasoning, critical thinking and the ability to apply abstract
knowledge to real-life tasks.
Numeracy
as a life skill
Numeracy skills are important in very routine aspects of our lives - when
dealing with personal finances, for example, or when deciding on how much to
believe of facts, figures and surveys reported in a daily newspaper.
Numeracy as a workplace skill
Almost all employment requires some level of numeracy, and the more numerate you
are, the more prospective employers will be interested in you.
Numeracy includes...
Number sense; spatial reasoning; operation sense and mathematical techniques;
computation; probability; measurement and geometry; statistical competencies
i.e. knowledge of procedures for statistical analysis of data; skills for making
sense of the statistical results obtained.
How the University supports numeracy...
Many aspects of numeracy are developed through study of academic subjects. More
intensive training and additional support options are listed below (for
Colchester Campus students).
Email the the
Skills Centre
with questions or comments on numeracy skills pages