Young people from schools around west London found out more about routes into Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) careers after GCSEs at an Uxbridge College taster day.
During the event on 27 May, run in partnership with the Engineering Development Trust (EDT), around 30 Year 9 and 10 students took part in a range of events including a gaming session and an electronics master class. The day also gave the students an opportunity to compare both university and apprenticeship pathways into STEM careers, and look at options including high level vocational study at college.
The provision of specialist technical education is due to expand at Uxbridge College from 2020 when it opens a national Institute of Technology (IoT) centre under the umbrella of the merged college group HCUC (Harrow College Uxbridge College). HCUC, which has also been selected to provide T Level qualifications - the technical equivalent to A Levels - from next year, was one of 12 education and training providers nationally to be selected by the Government earlier this year to go through IoT pre-award stage.
Uxbridge College will be providing a further opportunity for young people to see college facilities and find out more about future study and careers options at its Open Day on Wednesday 12 June, and will be running enrolment sessions during July and August.
Kiran Rami, Head of Guidance & Student Support at Uxbridge College, said: “There is now a great choice of routes into careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) depending on whether you prefer a more practical or academic approach to learning. It was great to work with EDT to provide young people with a taste of how interesting and diverse STEM subjects can be, along with information about options around following a path to university, learning on the job as an apprentice, or choosing from a wide range of relevant courses at college.”
The taster day was part of a three-day programme for the students from the area, with the second day held at University of Westminster, and the third with global engineering, construction, and project management company Bechtel.
EDT’s programme enables participants to spend three days during their half term holidays at a college, a university and an employer. The charitable trust delivers over 40,000 STEM experiences nationally each year for young people aged 9 to 21 years, to support them in enhancing their technical, personal and employability skills through industry-led projects, industrial placements and specialised taster courses. EDT also works with Industrial Cadets, an industry-led accreditation scheme under which employers run accredited experiences for young people aged 9-21, helping them to develop skills and gain an insight into industry.
More information about the 12 June Open Day at: https://www.uxbridge.ac.uk/college-information/open-days.html
For information about enrolment days: https://www.uxbridge.ac.uk/college-information/enrolment.html