Nuclear engineering on the curriculum
Nuclear engineering was on the curriculum for a group of 50 teenagers taking part in a four-day residential course at the University of Manchester. Organised by The Smallpeice Trust, in collaboration with the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and URENCO, the course offered the teenagers the chance to get a hands-on experience, looking at the work being done in the field of nuclear engineering and the career opportunities available.
The four-day summer camp with a difference took place from the 23rd July to 26thJuly. The focus was the practical project to ‘design and make’ a working centrifuge to time and budget, supported by presentations and workshops. Students also learnt aspects of team and project management as well as the physics behind centrifuge separation.
David Edwards, Chief Executive, ECITB commenting on the nuclear engineering course said, “The ECITB is committed to increase the uptake and awareness of careers in all of our sectors in engineering construction amongst young people. We are deeply impressed with the quality of work produced and send congratulations to all who took part. The residential course provided a fantastic platform for young people to learn about the nuclear industry.”
“We weren’t exactly sure exactly what to expect from the course,” said one student who attended. “But we learnt considerably more than we had hoped about nuclear physics and engineering skills.”
David Edwards added, “The course gave the students practical experience of working with others to solve problems. Feedback from the students is highly positive, this is due to the mix of learning and provision of team building activities. Our partnership with The Smallpeice Trust is helping to create engineers of the future.”
The Nuclear Engineering course is run by independent charity, The Smallpeice Trust and is part of a programme of residential courses to help people aged 13 to 18 learn and develop skills in engineering, design, technology and manufacturing. Through running residential courses and STEM enrichment days, The Trust has reached out to 18,175 students across the UK in the past year. For more information about The Smallpeice Trust visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
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Notes to editors:
About the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
- 1. The ECITB is the statutory and charitable body set up to secure engineering construction skills now and for the future. It has delivered training successfully to over one million learners over 20 years, and is led and funded by employers from the industry, ensuring the services are relevant and fit for purpose
- 2. The ECITB provides professional advice, information, skills development and qualifications to help individuals in engineering construction and anyone interested in a career in the industry to succeed. A dedicated website has been set up to provide more detailed information http://careers.ecitb.org.uk/
- 3. The ECITB sets a range of occupational and training standards, awards industry specific qualifications and invests £20 million each year in support of apprentices and adult learners across a range of skills. From entry level craft and technician programmes through to advanced engineering project management skills. In 2011, 65,000 people were supported through the ECITB’s range of approved programmes delivered by a network of over 200 approved providers.
- 4. The ECITB strategy is built on three objectives, these are to attract, qualify and develop talented people for the industry. The ECITB operating processes that secure the depth, breadth and quality of service are: employer engagement, identification of skills needs and priorities, stakeholder and provider engagement, delivery and continuous improvement. The ECITB provides support to employers, their employees and apprentices to design, build, maintain and decommission nuclear, power, pharmaceutical, renewables, chemicals, food, water, oil & gas facilities and other processes.
For more information visit www.ecitb.org.uk
About URENCO
URENCO operates plants in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, using URENCO’s world-leading centrifuge technology to enrich uranium for the use as nuclear fuel for civil power generation. URENCO’s focus is on providing safe, cost effective and reliable uranium enrichment services with a framework of environmental, social and corporate responsibility. Our goal is to further increase worldwide market share and to become the leading supplier in the extended global enrichment market.
Bobbie Cowell
PR & Events Co-ordinator
Direct: 01923 402135
Mobile: 07833 406 149
E-mail: Bobbie.Cowell@Ecitb.org.uk
Website: www.ecitb.org.uk
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
Blue Court, Church Lane, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, WD4 8JP
Registered as a charity in England and Wales No. 264506
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