Project title: Building unconventional engineering careers: creating your unique fit
Funding awarded: £99,900
Summary:
The project will equip the next generation of the university’s engineering graduates from underrepresented groups with entrepreneurial skillsets and the confidence and resilience they currently lack, compared to peers from well-represented groups. The complete programme will aim to provide participants with:
- An influential network of mentors, investors and peers
- Entrepreneurship skills
- Confidence- and resilience-building strategies
- Specific follow-up actions for participant ventures
What need does the project address?
The central premise of this project is to provide alternative career pathways to underrepresented engineering students marginalised by existing practice, reducing engineering career deflection at entry stage.
What need does the project address?
The central premise of this project is to provide alternative career pathways to underrepresented engineering students marginalised by existing practice, reducing engineering career deflection at entry stage.
What will the students experience?
The activities included within the programme will provide 30 to 60 fourth year students with entrepreneurial co-creation, mentoring, personal development skills, confidence building and work readiness skills. The programme will conclude with a showcase and pitch event for the students, to summarise outcomes and share our experience with other higher education institutions, and with some of the universities programme alumni pitching their ideas to an investor panel.
What are the expected outcomes?
The overarching goal is to empower and engage engineering students from underrepresented groups and retain them in the engineering profession beyond graduation. The project will do this by developing their entrepreneurial skillset, confidence, and resilience to failure while providing access to an influential business support network. The program will prioritise applicants with a protected characteristic or within a widening participation remit, taking positive action at the pre-application/awareness-raising stage to engage with more diverse applicants.