Smallpeice Trust Electronic Engineering Course Causes Buzz Amongst Teenagers
Teenagers from across the UK enjoyed a unique learning experience at the University of Portsmouth with a 4-day residential course giving the students a valuable insight into the field of electronic engineering.
Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, July 06, 2011 --(PR.com)-- From 27th June to 30th June, fifty-nine teenagers from across the UK enjoyed a unique learning experience at the University of Portsmouth.
Sponsored by the University of Portsmouth, this 4-day residential course gave the students a valuable insight into the field of electronic engineering. During the course the 14 and 15 year olds students took part in "solder-and-keep" workshops and gained hands-on experience of electronics by designing and building circuits with immediately visible results.
Students were also given first-hand experience of the electronics department giving them an idea of the specialist equipment and resources available at the University. Presentations from industry leaders GCHQ and QinetiQ provided students with information about possible career paths.
The main objective of the course was to inspire and encourage young students to consider a career in electronics. The content had both practical and theoretical elements. Innovative thinking, presentation skills and planning were an integral part of the course – key skills that students don’t often get chance to explore fully in their school environment.
As well as working on the design, build and test elements of the projects, they developed life skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, time management, finance and presentation. Social activities included a movie night, sports night and formal course dinner and disco.
Barbara Haward, Associate Dean from the the University of Portsmouth commented, "The University of Portsmouth has just hosted the Smallpeice Trust Electronic Engineering course. It has been a really successful and enjoyable week for both the students and the companies involved in mentoring them. The students have enthusiastically worked on some interesting projects, enjoyed their first taste of working and living in a University, and designed some amazing technology."
Spokesperson Gemma Murphy from the Trust added, “Thanks to the University of Portsmouth, these students have been given a worthwhile insight into electronic engineering and the career paths that could be open to them. Through a fun-filled timetable of inspirational presentations and design-and-make projects, students were able to develop a greater understanding and enthusiasm towards the subject.”
The Electronic Engineering course is run by independent charity, The Smallpeice Trust, and is part of an on-going programme of residential courses to help young people aged 13 to 18 learn and develop skills in engineering, design, technology and manufacturing. Through running residential courses and STEM enrichment days, The Trust has reached out to 17,677 students across the UK in the past year.
The new course timetable for 2012 will be launched in the autumn school term. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. To find out more, visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk, or telephone The Smallpeice Trust on 01926 333200.
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Notes to editors
Word count: 445
About The Smallpeice Trust:
The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charitable trust which promotes engineering as a career, primarily through the provision of residential courses for young people aged 13 to 18.
The Smallpeice Trust was founded in 1966 by Dr Cosby Smallpeice, a pioneering engineer and inventor of the Smallpeice Lathe. Following the stock market flotation of his company Martonair, Dr Smallpeice invested his energy and part of his personal fortune to set up the Trust to ensure that British industry could continuously benefit from his proven design and engineering philosophies: “Simplicity in design, economy in production.”
The Trust is now governed by an eminent board of non-executive trustees and members from a diverse range of engineering, industry, educational and professional bodies. In 2009/10, The Smallpeice Trust ran 30 residential courses for 1,700 school-aged students at universities across the country, with girls accounting for 38%. In addition, 15,977 students attended a Smallpeice in-school STEM masterclass.
For more information, visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Sponsored by the University of Portsmouth, this 4-day residential course gave the students a valuable insight into the field of electronic engineering. During the course the 14 and 15 year olds students took part in "solder-and-keep" workshops and gained hands-on experience of electronics by designing and building circuits with immediately visible results.
Students were also given first-hand experience of the electronics department giving them an idea of the specialist equipment and resources available at the University. Presentations from industry leaders GCHQ and QinetiQ provided students with information about possible career paths.
The main objective of the course was to inspire and encourage young students to consider a career in electronics. The content had both practical and theoretical elements. Innovative thinking, presentation skills and planning were an integral part of the course – key skills that students don’t often get chance to explore fully in their school environment.
As well as working on the design, build and test elements of the projects, they developed life skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, time management, finance and presentation. Social activities included a movie night, sports night and formal course dinner and disco.
Barbara Haward, Associate Dean from the the University of Portsmouth commented, "The University of Portsmouth has just hosted the Smallpeice Trust Electronic Engineering course. It has been a really successful and enjoyable week for both the students and the companies involved in mentoring them. The students have enthusiastically worked on some interesting projects, enjoyed their first taste of working and living in a University, and designed some amazing technology."
Spokesperson Gemma Murphy from the Trust added, “Thanks to the University of Portsmouth, these students have been given a worthwhile insight into electronic engineering and the career paths that could be open to them. Through a fun-filled timetable of inspirational presentations and design-and-make projects, students were able to develop a greater understanding and enthusiasm towards the subject.”
The Electronic Engineering course is run by independent charity, The Smallpeice Trust, and is part of an on-going programme of residential courses to help young people aged 13 to 18 learn and develop skills in engineering, design, technology and manufacturing. Through running residential courses and STEM enrichment days, The Trust has reached out to 17,677 students across the UK in the past year.
The new course timetable for 2012 will be launched in the autumn school term. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. To find out more, visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk, or telephone The Smallpeice Trust on 01926 333200.
###
Notes to editors
Word count: 445
About The Smallpeice Trust:
The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charitable trust which promotes engineering as a career, primarily through the provision of residential courses for young people aged 13 to 18.
The Smallpeice Trust was founded in 1966 by Dr Cosby Smallpeice, a pioneering engineer and inventor of the Smallpeice Lathe. Following the stock market flotation of his company Martonair, Dr Smallpeice invested his energy and part of his personal fortune to set up the Trust to ensure that British industry could continuously benefit from his proven design and engineering philosophies: “Simplicity in design, economy in production.”
The Trust is now governed by an eminent board of non-executive trustees and members from a diverse range of engineering, industry, educational and professional bodies. In 2009/10, The Smallpeice Trust ran 30 residential courses for 1,700 school-aged students at universities across the country, with girls accounting for 38%. In addition, 15,977 students attended a Smallpeice in-school STEM masterclass.
For more information, visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Contact
The Smallpeice Trust:
Gemma Murphy
+44(0)1926 333214
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
or contact:
Claire Fisher
+44(0)1926 333203
clairef@smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Gemma Murphy
+44(0)1926 333214
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
or contact:
Claire Fisher
+44(0)1926 333203
clairef@smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Contact
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