HUB South West Scotland has teamed up with South Ayrshire Council, education consultancy Class Of Your Own (COYO) and local secondary schools to support a STEM education programme.
Created by COYO to inspire professional careers in the construction industry, the ‘Design Engineer Construct!’ (DEC) learning programme is comparable to National 5 and Higher qualifications.
DEC provides real-world experience for young people and professional development for teaching staff. Marr College and Kyle Academy are both participating in the scheme and will benefit from the support of professionals showcasing modern methods of construction, digital technologies and net zero approaches to design.
The interactive course was launched last month, when 30 pupils enjoyed a tour of the new Mainholm Housing development in Ayr. 160 affordable and energy-efficient homes are being delivered at the site by hub South West Scotland and Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd. The pupils spoke to experts on-site who are driving the project, including an architect, site manager, quantity surveyor and building services engineer, to find out more about their roles and gain insight into the careers available in the sector.
Through DEC, students gain a foundation in STEM subjects with a focus on digital engineering and Building Information Modelling (BIM).
All senior pupils who attended are currently undertaking the DEC course and as they progress through the subject, will improve their research, analytical and problem-solving skills.
Michael Ross, chief executive at hub South West Scotland, said, “The built environment industry is facing a serious skills shortfall across a range of disciplines, so it’s important that we do what we can to support young people in gaining the skills we know they need to succeed and also address this skills shortfall in this vital industry that plays a significant part in the Scottish economy.
“We’re excited to help overcome the barriers by linking education to industry through our sponsorship of the Design Engineer Construct! programme. Working with our partners, we look forward to inspiring new talent into the sector and giving local pupils the opportunity to learn and grow with industry professionals.”
