PRESS Release: 'The Science of Flight P5 Challenge'

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

Our Lady and St Patrick’s College is celebrating after receiving a £4,078 grant from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

The Engineering Education Grant Scheme (EEGS), which is run by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, aims to engage young people aged 5-19 in learning about engineering and to develop the professional skills of those involved in supporting Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning and careers awareness. The EEGS also supports projects that improve wider engineering literacy.

For the past three years, Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College, Belfast has been working in partnership with teachers from St. Ita’s and St. Joseph’s Primary School in Carryduff to deliver a STEM project linked to supporting the P5 curriculum, culminating in a skills activity day in the College during summer term. This additional funding will allow the College to offer St Joseph’s Primary School, Ballyhackamore with the opportunity to get involved in this year’s event.

The ‘Science of Flight P5 Challenge’ was developed to further strengthen curricular links between the College and local primary schools, whilst also demonstrating how important technology and STEM is in the modern world. This has been complemented by building excellent links with Bombardier, whose employees add a ‘real life’ dimension to the itinerary for the day by delivering a company presentation, hosting a Q&A session with the pupils and then acting as mentors during the ‘construct and build’ stage of the model planes.

The IET and IMechE are partnering with the Year of Engineering, the Government-created and industry-backed year-long campaign to encourage more young people to pursue an engineering career.

Dermot Mullan, Principal at Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College said: “The place of STEM subjects in education, both primary and post primary level, is essential to increasing the supply of young people into the local STEM sector. Our teachers and schools collectively have a pivotal role in highlighting how relevant STEM subjects are in the current and future job market. This project provides participating pupils with the opportunity to utilise their STEM skills in a fun, interactive and stimulating ‘Construct & Build’ Challenge Day. This crucial funding will allow us to expand the project further for 2018 – truly inspiring the next generation of engineers.”

Peter Finegold, Head of Education and Skills at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: “The Science of Flight P5 Challenge is a fantastic example of the kind of projects the EEGS scheme aims to promote. The UK is facing a critical engineering skills shortage and showing young people how creative and exciting engineering can be a key way of inspiring the engineers of tomorrow.”

David Lakin, Head of Education at the Institution of Engineering and Technology, said: “In order to tackle the engineering skills gap we need more graduates and apprentices to enter the profession, and this can only happen if more school-age children – girls as well as boys – are attracted to, and choose to study Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects. The IET is investing considerable resource in EEGS to support vital projects like The Science of Flight P5 Challenge, which highlight the exciting, creative and rewarding world of engineering careers to young people”