The CIWM explained that the programme is designed to increase the number of engineering students from socio-economically disadvantaged or under-represented backgrounds and help address the UK skills shortage.
According to CIWM, the funding has been agreed for five years and will enable 36 female and 36 black or mixed black heritage students in year 10 to attend a four-day engineering residential programme at Oxford University per year.
Programme
The body added that the programme will include all teaching, accommodation, food and site visit costs. Hosted by the University’s Department of Engineering Science, participants will stay in one of the University’s historic colleges and take part in workshops in Oxford Engineering’s laboratories, it continued.
In addition to the academic sessions, the programme is said to include enrichment activities “to encourage the participants to start thinking about their future in higher education, and beyond to their careers”.
CIWM outlined that students will visit a company, where they are able to see some practical applications of the subjects they could choose to study at university. This has included Viridor’s Ardley and Grundon/Viridor Colnbrook energy from waste (EfW) facilities as well as the BMW Mini Factory, it said.
The CIWM noted that first year funding for attendance on the programme was supported by the Waste Environmental Education Research Trust (WEERT). CIWM said that it will fund the programme through WEERT, a trust linked to the Environmental Services Association, which is set to work with Oxford University to deliver the project.
‘Vital’
CIWM’s Honorary Treasurer, John Kutner, commented: “Improving our ability to encourage more engineering applications from female, black or mixed black heritage students is fully aligned with the CIWM’s EDI ambitions. It is also vital to addressing the skills gap that exists in the resource management sector and more broadly in terms of skilled scientists or engineers.
“In addition to increasing applications from underrepresented sections of society, the Uncover Engineering programme will inspire UK students to consider careers in engineering and encourage them to apply to study Engineering for further education.”
Neil Grundon, trustee with WEERT, added: “We welcome CIWM’s support for this important schools programme which we hope will encourage more year 10 female students and black or mixed black heritage students into engineering, as well acquainting them with the waste industry through site visits.”
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