Having supported the UTC from the very beginning, the design company has worked closely with the exam board to produce selected module content, and have creative input into the curriculum.
As part of an ‘Engineering Design’ module, students were challenged to design a bedside entertainment unit for hospitals. Using valuable research skills, innovative concepts and CAD models for practical development, the learners stretched their technical and inventive minds to construct something original and pitch-ready.
Black Country UTC student George Starkey, who produced the most impressive work, received an award for the best final design and got to present his winning project to leading industry professionals and UTC sponsors, Siemens UK. After handing out certificates to the students, the Managing Director of Haughton Design, David Mills praised the level of work he had seen and said: “It is exciting to see the overall standard of work learners have created after just one term; I cannot wait to see the quality of work the graduates will produce.”
Guests were also given presentations about the UTC’s partnerships with Haughton Design and other major businesses, such as ZF Lemforder and Siemens. The aim of the presentation was to acknowledge the region’s finest manufacturers and make them aware of the UTC’s purpose and identity as a specialist school, for Engineering and Science.
During his presentation, David Mills expressed his admiration for schools like the UTC and the importance of their partnership: “For too long there has been a disjoint between education and industry. However, the new technical colleges are actively engaging with us and industry as a whole to ensure that today’s learners graduate with the practical skills which employers want.”
Engaging with employers has proved very beneficial for University Technical Colleges, as it encourages learners to achieve brighter career prospects, and receive valuable support. The future of Engineering and Science is determined by the skills and development of the young generation, and employers are in desperate need of recruiting individuals in order to evolve and succeed.