The Engineering Education Scheme
The Engineering Education Scheme links teams of four Year 12 students and their teacher with local companies to work on real, scientific, engineering and technological problems
The EES is a project-based scheme designed to assist students in becoming more “work ready” and able reduce the negative perceptions of industry and engineering. The scheme also provides students with an in-depth experience in science, engineering and technology that will enable them to make an informed decision about their future studies, encouraging them to take up science, technology and engineering careers.
Other local companies involved include 3M, BAE Systems, BorgWarner, Carillion, Draeger UK, Essar Oil, Michell Bearings, Nissan, Rolls Royce, Sellafield, and many more.
In addition to the above, the project management over 6 months, the team working, the technical report writing, team verbal presentation, all these elements add considerably to these students being far more work ready than their peers.
It also:
- “Educates the participating teachers” about possible engineering careers locally; about “real life” outside their school and influence other pupils too
- Creates strong links between a local school and company, offering PR possibilities
- Develops the softer skills and competencies of the current company employees who mentor and support the team as they resolve the “problem” set by the company
- 70% of the projects identify actual or potential financial benefits for the participating company
- The EES includes a three-day residential workshop in the middle (December) at University enabling the teams full use of the University’s facilities as well have access to Workshop Technicians, to derive practical solutions to the problem
- Pupils state that after their EES experience, they are more likely to go into engineering
“We used the scheme as a means for providing coaching/mentoring experience for our graduates and this has worked really well.” R Howarth, Siemens
“The EES experience demonstrates the agility of young thinking in young minds and the benefits of involving an element of young engineers in creative problem solving. They are unconstrained by limits in their imagination.” G Phillips, NES
“A great learning experience for companies, engineers, teachers and students alike, helping to make the future by developing the engineers of tomorrow.” I Reed, NGN
For more information visit www.thescheme.org.uk or contact Charity Watkins, Regional Director, EDT North
Email: c.watkins@etrust.org.uk
