Engineering Week Wales

22-26 November 2010

Engineering Week Wales (EWW) was established by ColegauCymru / CollegesWales in 2005 as a result of further education colleges’ enthusiasm and desire to demonstrate the excellent career opportunities that engineering provides the highest achievers, together with a wide variety of employment opportunities across the range of disciplines and associated skills.

Every year in November/December, EWW gives school pupils in Year 9 exciting, hands-on engineering experiences at further education colleges across Wales.  Over 1,000 pupils per year have taken part in activities that range from aeronautics and automotive to electronic, manufacturing and mechanical engineering.

During EWW, engineering professionals run taster sessions and challenges to develop pupils’ skills and experience.  In particular, transferable skills such as communication and problem solving skills, as well as hands-on, practical experiences through team activities, and an increased understanding of high technology and design. EWW sessions cover the application of engineering disciplines such as electronics and mechanics.  Participants require some knowledge of maths/physics.

Both boys and girls are encouraged to take part.  Some centres organise a girl-only day during the week, with participation of JIVE.

Each centre also hosts an Engineering Skills Challenge – with a trophy awarded to the best Year 9 team completing the Challenge.  The challenge combines academic and practical skills.  Each participating school and pupil is also awarded an EWW Certificate of Participation.

Last year, 75 schools participated, with a team of pupils from each school designing, building, and operating one of a host of products, including:

• Scaled down rally cars and land yachts (including exciting team races at the end of the day!)
• An electronic “Minimal Mouse” that senses its route through a maze
• A rocket, using CAD software and raced vertically
• Motorized models of controllable lifts
• Bridges to carry significant weights

Key supporters of EWW include: ColegauCymru / CollegesWales, Semta, Engineering UK, City & Guilds and Careers Wales.