Project title: Partnering for choice and change: education for social inclusion
Funding awarded: £98,537.82
Summary:
This project between the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics and Plymouth Institute of Education will build off the success of two previously funded projects. This project will:
- build on inclusive practices and provision in schools by addressing educational inequalities that exist in society and education and impact upon pupils’ attainment, attendance and progression
- promote social and civic responsibilities among underrepresented undergraduate engineering students, and secure successful graduate outcomes.
For more information please contact:
Dr Asiya Khan, Associate Professor of Multimedia Communication and Intelligent Control, School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
Dr Suanne Gibson, Associate Professor, Plymouth Institute of Education, School of Society and Culture, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business, University of Plymouth
Two week-long summer schools will be delivered in the university’s newly built, state-of-the-art engineering laboratories to improve outcomes for a select group of year 10 pupils in secondary education and post-16 students in Further Education. The programme will offer immersive learning experiences and mentoring for pupils' communication skills and attainment. The activities will be co-created and co-run by undergraduate engineering minority students.
What needs does the project address?
The year 10 pupils and post-16 students will come from secondary schools, further education colleges and alternative education providers across Plymouth, with the project focusing on disadvantaged learners who have been further challenged since the COVID-19 pandemic. These learners may have an education and health care plan, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), face poverty or socio-economic disadvantage and/or experience other forms of inequality relating to their gender, or ethnicity. The project aims to provide learners with knowledge, tools and experiences that will boost their self-esteem and contribute to improvements with their academic work, enhancing their opportunities and career destinations.
The undergraduate engineering students will act as mentors to the year 10 pupils through a micro-internship. They will develop their self-esteem and confidence and grow their communication abilities to strengthen their place and position as they move towards graduation. They will develop an understanding of learning and inclusion to gain an appreciation of their civic duty as future professional engineers who promote social justice and equity at work.
What will the students experience?
The project will be delivered in three workstreams:
- Training: project leads will set up a steering group of experienced student mentors. New student mentors will gain experience through an established careers mentoring programme at University of Plymouth. EqualEngineers will deliver STEM training for teachers.
- Content: underrepresented undergraduate engineering students and technicians will co-create summer school activities. These will showcase different areas of engineering to educate and inspire future generations.
- Peer networks: developing effective peer networks for post-16 and undergraduate students via the EqualEngineers platform, to ensure project sustainability.
What are the expected outcomes?
The project aims to:
- develop confidence and leadership skills and improve graduate outcomes among the undergraduates.
- raise professional knowledge and awareness of post-16 options through STEM practitioner training.
- develop a pupils’ understanding of the role engineers play in society.
- improve academic progression and self -confidence for underrepresented and/or disadvantaged year 10 pupils and/or post-16 students.
- demystify university access, strengthen local university-school partnerships and establish sustained peer networks.
We will evaluate project activities in terms of pupil engagement, progression, attainment and graduate outcomes for undergraduate engineering minority students.