Article by:
Estelle Rowe
Educational charity EDT is set to roll out an innovative taster course having completed a successful pilot in the Birmingham area. The new course was developed to help students in year 10 to be able to informatively compare different routes into science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), experiencing both university and apprentice life. This new initiative comes in response to the concerns surrounding the growing gap of skills in the UK, the taster course aims to help young people to realise that there are many different ways into a promising career in a STEM related industry.
Students came from 16 different schools from as far afield as Malvern and Rugby as well as Birmingham, to attend the course which took place over May half term. Participating students visited three locations over the three days; Solihull College - Woodlands Campus, Birmingham City University – Millennium Point, and Aero Engine Controls – Hall Green Birmingham. At these facilities the young people participated in tours, talks, demonstrations and hands on practical activities as well as meeting with role models.
Over the three days, the selected group learnt about the technical aspects of pneumatics, hydraulics, robotics and aircraft control systems, engaging them in interesting subject areas that could be pursued both as an Apprentice or an Undergraduate, and helping them to discover that there is more than one route into a rewarding career in industry. At Solihull College and the Aero Engine Controls facility, students took part in speed dating sessions with role model apprentices and graduates to learn from their own experiences, helping the young people to gain perspective on the course content.
Speaking after the pilot completion, Programme Director Estelle Rowe, from EDT said “the purpose of this course was to really open up the eyes of these students, sometimes they can feel pressured to go down a certain path which could come from a parents’ own choices or just from a lack of awareness about the options that are now available. The Routes into STEM programme is a 3-day ‘non-residential’ taster course, offering young people age 14 to 15 the opportunity to explore the routes available into a STEM career. Each day involves a different visit designed, to raise awareness of opportunities and to help them to make an informed decision about their future.
It was promising to find that after the 3 days there was a 40/60 split of those who wanted to pursue the Apprenticeship route and those who wanted to further their education at University, and what was really encouraging was that every student who attended the pilot said that they would recommend the taster course to their friends, demonstrating the significance of the experience.”
Following the success of the pilot, the programme will now be rolled out further during the 2014/15 academic year, to other areas across the UK.
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