Welsh Students Get Ahead with STEM
Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, July 12, 2013 --(PR.com)-- From 24th to 26th June, seventy nine students gathered at the University of South Wales, to attend a specially designed Engineering Experience residential course. In partnership with First Campus at the University of South Wales, The Smallpeice Trust ran this free course to encourage 13 and 14 year old students from hard to reach backgrounds to consider engineering as a possible career in the future.
Over the three days, the pupils had the opportunity to learn about engineering through a series of presentations and practical exercises. Working in teams, they tackled ‘real-life’ challenges on projects designed and facilitated by young engineers from industry. These organisations included Babcock, Jaguar Land Rover, Network Rail and the Royal Navy. Projects included designing and building a water-tight caisson, a 4 x 4 crash-proof vehicle, a train and tunnel, and a war ship. 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.
Liz Bailey, First Campus Coordinator from the University of South Wales commented, “Following the success of the STEM programme last year, First Campus are delighted to be working with The Smallpeice Trust again. The shortage of engineers is reported regularly in the media and this is an excellent opportunity to give youngsters a taste of what working in different engineering industries would be like. Coupled with the fact that they are staying at a university, this is a truly aspiration raising experience!”
Gemma Murphy, spokesperson for The Smallpeice Trust, commented, “Year-on-year this project delivers a high quality engineering experience. Students get to stay in halls of residence, work alongside graduate and undergraduate engineers on challenging engineering projects, have a campus tour and the chance to use the sporting facilities and faculty building. We are most grateful to First Campus and the University of South Wales for supporting this initiative to help young people from all backgrounds do great things using engineering skills and to turn creative ideas into reality.”
Students also enjoyed a host of social activities including a film night and a special dinner along with a disco on the last night.
This course was 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 20,353 students across the UK in the past year.
The new course timetable for 2014 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 telephoneThe Smallpeice Trust on 01926 333200.
Notes to editors:
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 12 to 18.
In the past academic year, The Smallpeice Trust has reached out to 20,353 young people through 33 different subsidised residential courses, 1-day in-school STEM Days and STEM-in-a-Box kits. The Smallpeice Trust has also trained 913 teachers to enhance their delivery of STEM in the classroom.
A strong interface is maintained with industry, education and professional bodies that help to support, promote and develop the courses. Through these relationships the Trust is also able to provide a number of tailored or specialised courses.
About First Campus:
First Campus is a Reaching Wider project, funded via the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) and is a partnership of Higher Educations Institutions (HEIs) and Further Education (FE) Colleges across South East Wales. The aim of the project is to engage with young people and their families in order to raise awareness of and aspirations towards Higher Education (HE). This is done via an extensive range of programmes and workshops, delivered at schools, community venues and at University and College campuses across the region. The project targets specific populations that are currently under represented in HE, for example people living in Communities First areas and looked after children.
Over the three days, the pupils had the opportunity to learn about engineering through a series of presentations and practical exercises. Working in teams, they tackled ‘real-life’ challenges on projects designed and facilitated by young engineers from industry. These organisations included Babcock, Jaguar Land Rover, Network Rail and the Royal Navy. Projects included designing and building a water-tight caisson, a 4 x 4 crash-proof vehicle, a train and tunnel, and a war ship. 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.
Liz Bailey, First Campus Coordinator from the University of South Wales commented, “Following the success of the STEM programme last year, First Campus are delighted to be working with The Smallpeice Trust again. The shortage of engineers is reported regularly in the media and this is an excellent opportunity to give youngsters a taste of what working in different engineering industries would be like. Coupled with the fact that they are staying at a university, this is a truly aspiration raising experience!”
Gemma Murphy, spokesperson for The Smallpeice Trust, commented, “Year-on-year this project delivers a high quality engineering experience. Students get to stay in halls of residence, work alongside graduate and undergraduate engineers on challenging engineering projects, have a campus tour and the chance to use the sporting facilities and faculty building. We are most grateful to First Campus and the University of South Wales for supporting this initiative to help young people from all backgrounds do great things using engineering skills and to turn creative ideas into reality.”
Students also enjoyed a host of social activities including a film night and a special dinner along with a disco on the last night.
This course was 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 20,353 students across the UK in the past year.
The new course timetable for 2014 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 telephoneThe Smallpeice Trust on 01926 333200.
Notes to editors:
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 12 to 18.
In the past academic year, The Smallpeice Trust has reached out to 20,353 young people through 33 different subsidised residential courses, 1-day in-school STEM Days and STEM-in-a-Box kits. The Smallpeice Trust has also trained 913 teachers to enhance their delivery of STEM in the classroom.
A strong interface is maintained with industry, education and professional bodies that help to support, promote and develop the courses. Through these relationships the Trust is also able to provide a number of tailored or specialised courses.
About First Campus:
First Campus is a Reaching Wider project, funded via the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) and is a partnership of Higher Educations Institutions (HEIs) and Further Education (FE) Colleges across South East Wales. The aim of the project is to engage with young people and their families in order to raise awareness of and aspirations towards Higher Education (HE). This is done via an extensive range of programmes and workshops, delivered at schools, community venues and at University and College campuses across the region. The project targets specific populations that are currently under represented in HE, for example people living in Communities First areas and looked after children.
Contact
The Smallpeice Trust:
Gemma Murphy
+44(0)1926 333214
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Gemma Murphy
+44(0)1926 333214
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Contact
Categories