Baker Dearing has teamed up with industry and education leaders to launch the UK Engineering Education Alliance (UKEEA). The alliance had its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, to thrash out plans for supporting more young people into industry and more employers to access strong talent pipelines.
Our Director of Curriculum Innovation Steve Leahey, Chief Adviser Simon Connell, and Project Manager Olivia Saunders met at Vision West Nottinghamshire College’s Gene Haas Centre with industry and education leaders to explore how closer collaboration could strengthen engineering education.
Present at the meeting were the Gene Haas Foundation, represented by Baker Dearing Trustee Andrew Ward MIET AMIOSH. Renishaw, LK Metrology, Autodesk, Dormer Pramet, and mo8 were the employers present. Also represented at the meeting were the four education settings with Gene Haas centres: West Notts College, Gloucestershire Engineering Training, West Suffolk College and Silverstone UTC.
As well as a tour of the college, the day included discussions on the following:
- Sharing existing successes and building a partnership model
- Sharing what educators need from industry, including work experience, equipment and time.
- Discussing what employers need from education in terms of students’ work readiness
- Practical support through mentoring, guest speakers, site visits, careers resources and CPD opportunities
There was a real sense of shared ambition to build on and strengthen existing relationships to create opportunities that benefit young people, educators, and employers.
Thank you to the foundation for inviting us to be part of the UKEEA and to the other organisations for taking part. A special thanks to West Notts College for hosting.
