Greater Manchester Engineering Challenge 2021 Sparks Engineering Interest in Young People

Designed around young people aged between 7-14 years, SEERIH launched the Greater Manchester Engineering Challenge (GMEC) in 2017. The project enabled young people to experience engineering first-hand and for teachers to work alongside engineers as part of a bespoke training programme. More than 600 pupils across 15 schools took part this year.

 “It should be our priority, as industry professionals, to highlight and teach the different layers of our discipline – whether that’s civils, structural, environmental, materials, electrical. We must ignite interest from a young age and make sure that upcoming generations have a solid understanding of the sector and its many pathways.”

Kat Dewell, People and Culture Manager. Civil Engineers

We are very happy to celebrate the recent recognition received by one of the teachers involved in this year’s GMEC who has also been a regular participant in SEERIH’s projects for a number of years. Gill Fitzpatrick, Beech Hill Primary School, Wigan, has been recognised by the Design and Technology Education Association’s Awards 2021 being awarded the Inspirational Teaching of Design and Technology Awards  – Primary Award, for going above and beyond to ensure her pupils had continuous access to high quality, engaging D & T, and engineering projects, including GMEC during lockdown. She will be speaking at the Association of Science Education’s Annual Conference to share her experiences and how her work with SEERIH has supported her engineering pedagogy. Well done Gill!

 “Gill consulted colleagues at Manchester University (Science & Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub) to share ideas on projects and her work continues with them as part of the progressing to be an engineer project. This has enabled the pupils to take part in enrichment activities that enhance and elevate D&T and raise the profile of STEM subjects within school.” DTEA Award Statement

For more information about GMEC visit: GMEC: Greater Manchester Engineering Challenge — Engineering Educates

Read SEERIH’s Biennial report here.