The College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) welcomed nearly 100 Year 12 students from across the country to its labs and technical facilities, for Birmingham's annual Engineering Taster Day on Tuesday 7 July.
On Tuesday 7 July 2015 the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS) welcomed nearly 100 Year 12 students from across the country to its labs and technical facilities, for Birmingham’s annual Engineering Taster Day.
Taster days offer a unique opportunity to inspire and inform young people who are considering applying to university to study an engineering discipline about the extensive benefits an engineering degree can bring as well as the broad range of careers open to graduates, from artificial intelligence and gaming to redesigning our cities.
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education has long been identified as a major priority at both school and HE level with such subjects integral to the UK’s global success in manufacturing and scientific research. STEM graduates have the potential to earn some of the highest salaries however employers have found it difficult to recruit individuals with the right set of STEM skills.
Young people with a broad set of scientific and technological skills can access a rich a varied career and working outside the classroom, using real world examples of stem in action, can help students relate to the possible pathways available to them.
Visiting students will choose between interactive taster sessions from the five engineering disciplines offering study programmes:
Dr Alessandro Mottura, Metallurgy and Materials, said:
Outreach activities such as our Engineering Taster Days raise aspiration and awareness of the many opportunities open to those who study engineering. As engineering subjects are not taught as part of the national curriculum, students are often less informed about the different types of engineering than the sciences. It is also a great way for potential applicants to experience life as a student at Birmingham.
