Engineering challenge for college team
ASTUDENT has spent the past six months leading a team to design a new leisure centre for a national engineering project.
Jehaad Khalid, 18, from Thornhill Road, Stockport, worked with four other students from Abbey College Manchester, alongside a team from engineering consulting firm ARUP Manchester, to solve a real-life engineering problem as part of the Engineering Education Scheme.
The students focused on how temperature and lighting play an important role in building design and created a proposal for a splash pool within a leisure centre, which will eventually be developed into a working model.
They were able to progress working solutions, including prototype models, during a three-day residential at the university, where their ideas were put to the test.
The scheme, set up by the Engineering Development Trust, pits students against the engineering problems put forward by real companies.
Jehaad and his teammates will now wait to hear the results.
The Abbey College Manchester team took first place in 2015 and were the close runners up in 2016.
A-level mathematics, photography and physics student Jehaad led his team to create a winning design for the competition.
He said: “I am very proud of my team and the ideas which have been generated.
“This has been a fantastic experience and has taught us a lot in terms of working life in the real world.”
Abbey College Manchester principal Liz Elam added: “Jehaad has been a wonderful example for his team and has helped to develop some fantastic ideas. He has thrived with this project.
“This is a great initiative as the students are gaining experience from reallife engineers.
“It has really helped develop their confidence, communication and leadership skills.”