Engineering Diplomas Offering A Bright Future
29th July, 2010
Support for the new Advanced Engineering diplomas amongst pupils, parents and teachers is growing for students wanting careers in the sector says the Plymouth Employment and Skills Board (ESB).
Plymouth ESB is keen for employers to recognize the qualification and to encourage them to get involved, Graham Stirling Chair of Plymouth Employment and Skills Board and Managing Director of Barden said: “By finding out about what’s involved in the Diplomas and even supporting it themselves, employers get a chance to shape the future development of the engineering sector.
“Companies have been saying for a long time that education and training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects do not prepare students for the workplace. We want to say to them, look at the Diplomas, look at the courses and the skills that are being developed and get involved.”
One of the local employers providing support to the Diplomas is Ginsters. Training and Education Co-ordinator for the company, Chris Schaffer, said: “We recognize that real time work experience and support from local companies are invaluable to the students, and makes learning much more realistic and enjoyable. This gives future employers a much better picture of what the student has been doing. We welcome the diplomas with open arms.”
Students at Devonport High School for Boys are coming to the end of the first course provided by the school and are enthusiastic about the diplomas and their design which is far closer to working and real life challenges than traditional GCSEs.
Chris Roberts and Laurence Mayhew, aged 15, both decided to choose the Diploma as an option because of their well developed enthusiasm for engineering and making things.
Chris has plans to use the Diploma to get into Welbeck Defence 6th Form College and thinks that it will give him an advantage over other candidates with more traditional academic exam results. Laurence has always had a passion for trains and intends to work in the transport industry.
Chris said: “The course has given us a real insight into real life working practices and demands. Instead of having projects set one after the other, we have to work on many different things at the same time, and we are responsible for our own time management – something that you don’t get with traditional courses.”
The Diploma also puts a lot of emphasis on developing work related skills. Team work, project management, communication along with peer review and support are about working successfully rather than learning subjects from an exam – based perspective.
Laurence adds: “I’ve always been interested in building things and I wanted a course that would give me a more practical experience. It‘s not an easy option, the Diploma is very demanding in terms of self discipline and self reliance. The teacher’s role is very different on this course. We are not in a classroom spoon fed information, we have to solve our own problems, create our own schedules and develop close working links with our peers both at school, and on the internet.
Parents have been concerned that the course might not be recognized by employers in the same way that traditional GCSEs and A Levels are understood. Laurence’s mum is very supportive of the Diploma and his decision to take the course instead of 2 GCSEs.
Mrs Mayhew said: “We were very enthusiastic about the course in principle but did have some concerns about how it would impact on his GCSE options. The school was very good in reassuring us about the qualification.
“Laurence has worked incredibly hard making a static steam engine. He’s had visits to industries to see how the mechanical and technical come together in a product and it has taught him a lot about what life is about.
“I think parents of students who are considering the diploma need to look at the pros and cons to help their child decide whether it’s right for them. In the long run it gives them a jump start for a career in engineering and what area interests them. For Laurence it was definitely the right decision.”
David Butcher, Director of Engineering at Devonport High School for Boys said: The current Diploma programme is the result of a lot of collaborative work between schools, colleges, and work-based learning providers. It is a valuable blend of academic study and application to real-life situations and problems.
“It has been difficult for both students and families to accept the claims for a new qualification. However, with good information and advice, we are seeing growing numbers in the next two cohorts taking the Engineering Diploma. Laurence and Chris are in a group of 13. There are 34 learners in the year below and we are planning for 44 to start this September. Additionally, there is an expected increase in numbers for the post-16 qualification.
“One of our Advanced Diploma students has received an unconditional offer to study Aeronautical Engineering at Brunel University, which has a strong reputation in Engineering. We are confident that future learners on the Advanced Diploma will be secure in the knowledge that Universities are using the Diploma to make offers to UCAS applicants”
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