Using Generation Y to inspire Gen Z
Edited on
12 January 2018
Read time: 2 minutes
Wolverhampton has a rich history of manufacturing and engineering with iron and steel works in the area, lock making and paint, bicycle and motor car manufacture featuring heavily locally in the last 200 years. There is now a thriving economic cluster in the aerospace industry and a new car manufacturer on the outskirts of the City. The City is working hard to play its part in its economic reinvention and regeneration. These efforts are key to making an improved offer to Generation Y and retaining locally nurtured talent and skill.
The UK Government is keen to promote the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics agenda (STEM) as a means of increasing the economic competitiveness of the UK. It will also help to generate the workforce of the future as part of an industrial strategy to encourage a highly skilled, knowledgeable workforce whilst creating and retaining high value jobs in the UK.
One of the offers Wolverhampton University makes for its students is to support them to become STEM ambassadors whilst they are studying in the city.
By becoming a STEM ambassador the students have the opportunity to increase their confidence in front of a class. It enables them to go into schools to talk with passion about their areas of knowledge and about subjects they love. This helps reinforce progression from schools to university, as well as giving the under graduates the experience to lead University tours and encourage students of the future.
One Ambassador, delivers talks on computer science and digital electronics, and is part of an organisation called Code Club, a not for profit organisation providing free educational support in: Scratch, HTML, CSS and Python programming languages, for children of the ages 9 to 11.
It is hoped this will inspire and change the way young people think about maths and science and getting them to think of the exciting and wide-ranging careers that studying these subjects can lead to, as well as encouraging more young girls into STEM subject areas.
To give an idea of the scale of the activity, the local Education and Business partnership (EBP) in 2015/16 have approved 157 STEM ambassadors, carried out 76 single school and 53 multi-school events.
One example of activity at schools is the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) fair, hosted at Highfields School, to enable students to talk to a range of companies about possible career opportunities and pathways available to them when they leave education. Among the companies and groups who contributed were West Midlands Fire Service, Severn Trent Water, Wolverhampton Astronomical Society, the University of Wolverhampton, Amey plc and the Royal Navy. As well as being given information on potential future careers, the students were able to participate in a keep fit 'rowing race' and a range of demonstrations including the administration of first aid and resuscitation. The fire service also demonstrated the "jaws of life" equipment they use to cut open cars and rescue people trapped inside.
The Headteacher said “"It provides students with the opportunity to learn more about the range of pathways and careers available within STEM subjects in addition to raising awareness of future STEM careers currently being developed for the next generation of students". "The event is really brought to life by the practical demonstrations and activities students can take part in providing an exciting and fun way for them to learn and engage with STEM subjects".
By encouraging Gen Y students to link into local schools as STEM ambassadors it not only boosts their confidence and abilities, but hopefully helps create roots in the local communities encouraging graduate talent to remain in the area.
Submitted by Karolina Prymas on