WELSH ENGINEERING TALENT FOR THE FUTURE EESW WELSH ENGINEERING TALENT FOR THE FUTURE EESW STEM STEM Welsh Engineering Talent for the Future Cymru Issue Welsh Engineering Talent for the FutureSeptember Cymru talent No. 23 talent2019 Issue No. 18 THE JOURNAL OF THE ENGINEERING EDUCATION SCHEME WALES September 2014 TALENIssue No. 18 THE JOURNAL OF THE ENGINEERING EDUCATTION SCHEME WALES September 2014 INSIDE ADDRESSING SHORTFALL: 3 Cardiff University plays its part WINNER: Ysgol Plasmawr's Daniel 4 Clarke – Student of the Year ProspectiVE ENgiNeeriNG stUDENts at EESW'S HeaDStart CYMRU EVENT at SwaNsea UNIVersitY F1 IN SCHOOLS: Celebrating 30 years of Another excellent year 8 for teams in Wales inspiring future engineers ow in our 30th year, the ROBERT CATER targets and our ESF funding has NEngineering Education CEO, Engineering Education Scheme been extended and is currently Scheme Wales (EESW) currently Wales secure until 2021. engages with more than 8,000 Funding from the government students per year across both continues to ensure we can primary and secondary sectors. The foundation for the development of continue to operate across the scheme has grown significantly EESW was established. whole of Wales. JagUAR challenge: since it was first established Over the years the The ESF funding allowed Engaging young minds 12 by Austin Matthews in scheme grew and us to offer a broader range of in a fun and exciting way 1989 (see page 2) with developed to experiences to a wider 11-19 age funding from the involve larger range. Royal Academy of numbers and We continued with the sixth- Engineering. worked with form industry-linked project and Mr Matthews and an increasing added a range of activities for Key two other helpers 3oyears number of Stage 3 under the umbrella of established EESW as companies. ROBERT CATER CEO, EESW i2E (Introduction to Engineering), a registered charity and 1989-2019 Austin Matthews Girls’ into STEM, the F1 in Schools set up a board of trustees continued to manage My first task was to prepare a ESF-funded operation across the Challenge, and Headstart Cymru. of which I was a member. the scheme until 2009 and business plan to secure funding Convergence Area of Wales. EESW is grateful to the Welsh In these early days the scheme I took on responsibility as chair of from the European Social The funding was originally European Funding Office (WEFO) organised links between teams of trustees somewhere along the Fund (ESF) through the Welsh granted for three years. and the government for their sixth-form students and companies way. Government to support and The Welsh Government also support and to the companies, to enable the students to tackle When Austin retired the expand the scheme. provided funding to ensure we universities, colleges and schools LAST YEAR'S WINNER: real engineering problems. trustees asked me to take over The bid was successful and could offer the same provision to that work with us to give pupils Kirsty's design unveiled 15 The numbers involved were the management of the scheme in 2010 I started recruiting staff schools across the whole of Wales. the exciting STEM experiences we on Wales Rally GB car quite modest, but a good in 2009. to operate the STEM Cymru We have continued to meet all offer. THE JOURNALTHE JOURNAL OF THE OF ENGINEERING THE ENGINEERING EDUCATION EDUCATION SCHEME SCHEME WALES WALES 2 WELSH ENGINEERING TALENT FOR THE FUTURE WELSH ENGINEERING TALENT FOR THE FUTURE 3 NEW PResiDENT for EESW University addressing shortfall of he Engineering Education a life peer with the title Baron TScheme Wales is very Jones, of Deeside in the pleased to announce that County of Clwyd. industry-ready software engineers Lord Barry Jones has agreed to In 1999 Queen’s Birthday become our president. Honours, he was made a Lord Jones was the Member member of the Privy Council of MATTHEW TURNER of Parliament (MP) for East the United Kingdom. Industry and external engagement TIM WillIAMS Flintshire from 1970 to 1983. The EESW trustees feel that manager, Cardiff School of Computer EESW Chair of trUstees He was also parliamentary his patronage will be very Science and Informatics, Under-Secretary of State for helpful to the scheme. Cardiff University Wales from 1974 to 1979 and Tim Williams, chair of became MP for Alyn and trustees added: “Lord Jones Our time to Deeside in 1983. was very impressed when he ardiff University’s School In 1994 he was appointed first saw the activities of EESW Cof Computer Science and by the Prime Minister as and instantly wanted to help. Informatics has a longstanding recognise a member of the then “Given his background, reputation for its applied research new Intelligence and Security stature and considerable activities. and adapt Committee, on which he experience, we are very Over the past four years the served until 2001; when the fortunate that he has agreed to school has worked to integrate committee was dissolved at be our president and we look industry working practices into its to change that year’s general election, forward to working with him to taught degrees. LorD JoneS AND his wife JANet with A siXth-form team from the ALUN School at the Jones retired from the House increase the profile and value This activity has built upon t has, and continues to be, both NORTH WALES BIG BANG of Commons and was made of this great scheme.” the research-informed teaching Ia pleasure and privilege to be to improve the employability associated with EESW and an of students studying within the honour to serve as chair of trustees school and to respond to the needs over the past 10 years, writes Tim of industry, particularly companies Williams. based in Wales. EESW celebrates 30 years’ The school offers a year-in- service this year; not only a great 'Blank canvas, seed funding and industry option on its computer achievement but recognition of the science degrees, and this is proving hard work and dedication of the increasingly popular with students. staff, consultants and advisers, past Importantly, the school has seen and present, who can be so proud a welcome rise in the number of of their contribution. the whole of Wales ahead of me' local companies engaging with the The vision of Austin Matthews, year-in-industry programme and the founder of EESW, and the AUSTIN V MATTHEWS MBE also providing shorter placements management and leadership of Retired director, Engineering for students during the summer Bob Cater, EESW chief executive, Education Scheme Wales break. must be acknowledged and The school launched the applauded. National Software Academy (NSA) Every organisation must hroughout my teaching career Funding in September 2015 in partnership recognise and adapt to change. Tand as an education adviser to with the Welsh Government and For EESW we are now looking a county authority, I strived to link from the industry leaders to address the at the changes to the school what is now known as STEM, to the shortfall of qualified, industry-ready curriculum and the needs of actual process of educating young software engineers. industry and commerce. people and then introduce them to government The software engineering NATIONAL SOFTWARE AcADEMY stUDENts work IN close partNership with INDUstrY The digital age is here and will the real life experience of working degrees taught at the NSA provide affect the way we work and live in with industry. continues to a focus on the skills, knowledge the future. My efforts came to the and hands-on experience required Wales to deliver coding clubs and It is of paramount importance attention of The Royal Academy of to be effective as a commercial curriculum support. that the role we play in the Engineering (known, at that time, ensure EESW software engineer. The school has also worked education of pupils, from primary as The Fellowship of Engineering) Based at purpose-designed to provide training in several school to sixth form, reflect these which had started a scheme in can continue premises at the Information community settings including changes, to make sure that the England known as The Engineering Station in Newport, the NSA aims libraries and community centres. activities we run, inform and Education Scheme. to operate to mimic the workplace as far as All this activity aims to prepare students as they make It involved linking with possible within a higher education encourage more people, of all ages, important decisions over career enlightened companies in the environment. companies and third-sector bodies to think about undertaking a career choices. engineering manufacturing and across the A key feature of NSA degrees with a wide range of technical in computing and technology and We encourage greater research field and solving real live is the emphasis on project-based competence to sponsor student the opportunities that might be collaboration between industry problems for them. whole of learning. projects. available as a result. and education and ask that Many of the projects saved large During each semester of their Client-facing projects allow In line with this aim, the school employers get in touch with sums of money for their linked Wales. studies, students undertake a the students to have an extensive has engaged with a number of us to offer support and companies. FRom Left: CaroN JONes, JohN Griffiths AM, Sir ANthoNY CleaVer AND AUStin MatthewS team-based project intending to and highly practical learning EESW initiatives over the past provide students with This obviously was address a challenge presented by experience with a particular focus academic year. an opportunity to ‘win-win’ situation Where do I start? By the way, all this scheme grew and grew.