Students learn about engineering
Six pupils from Stonelaw and Trinity high schools were celebrating last week after completing a 10-week Get Into Engineering project.
Carys Kelly, Christopher Laing, Gavin Mackle and Joshua Collins from Stonelaw and Fizra Zafar and Kieran Craig from Trinity have been alternating between site visits to Cuningar Loop and research sessions at the University of the West of Scotland since September.
They were at the Olympia building in Bridgeton last week to receive their certificates.
The Get Into Engineering project was created in partnership between Robertson, the infrastructure, support services and construction group, the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), and urban regeneration company Clyde Gateway.
It’s aim is to address the skills shortage in Scotland by offering students the chance to learn about the variety of job opportunities that exist for engineering graduates.
As well as gaining practical experience or programming, project management, design and construction, the pupils have also been involved in deploying specialised equipment being used on-site to construct a raised timber boardwalk, which will run along the edge of the River Clyde.
The project also aims to encourage more girls to consider engineering as a career path, as currently less than three per cent of chartered civil engineers in Scotland are women. In keeping with this goal, two of the high school pupils were female, as were both university mentors.
All the pupils who took part hailed the project as a massive success.
In a special video produced detailing their work at Cuningar Loop, Joshua Collins said: “For ages I wasn’t very sure what I wanted to do then this popped up.
“I was always interested in engineering and I thought it would be a great chance to see what sort of things I could get involved in.”
Carys Kelly said: “There’s people in the class that could be really interested in engineering but not had the opportunity to see a project develop the way we have.”
Gemma Nicoll, community development manager at Robertson, said they had been delighted to get involved in the project: “Get into Engineering allows high school pupils the opportunity to experience different areas of the industry and also get a feel for university life.”
Natalie Phillips, community benefits project manager at Clyde Gateway, added: “The project provides local young people with a practical insight into engineering with the innovative blend of on-site visits and university teaching enabling them to look at the subject matter from a range of angles.”