UK project aims to combat electronics skills shortage
1 min read
A project designed to stimulate interest in electronics among school children has been co developed by The UK Electronic Skills Foundation and education charity Engineering Development Trust (EDT).
Entitled 'Our Electronics Environment', the 10 week Go4SET project will demonstrate the relevance of pursuing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects to careers in electronics.
Each participating team of six students and a teacher will be sponsored by a company and united with an industry mentor to empower the students to broaden their skills, develop analytical thinking and make informed decisions about the range of careers open to them in industry.
"The Go4SET project has been created to advance personal development and inspire a new generation of young minds to find out more about the rapid technology change happening around them and the ways in which they can be a part of this future," said Mark Williams, education director at EDT.
In teams of six, children aged between 12 and 14 will investigate the role electronics plays in their everyday school life and asked to think of smart electronics solutions to problems identified by the school.
The inaugural UKESF Go4SET project will begin in Autumn 2012 and be open to schools throughout the South West region, home to some of the world's leading electronic companies. After the regional final in Spring 2013, the project is planned to roll out nationally.
"We have already been impressed by some of the imaginative solutions that school pupils have come up with in the trials," said Rebecca Whatley-Stokes, global head of development and learning at Dialog Semiconductor. "We would encourage more employers to join this project to help harness this enthusiasm for our future."
Companies wishing to be involved in the UKESF Go4SET project can contact the UKESF at info@ukesf.org or Linda Fuller at EDT on southwest@etrust.org.uk or 01752 761 110.
