CIWM has announced that it’s funding Oxford University’s “Uncover Engineering” programme.
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, CIWM says.
Agreed for five years, CIWM funding 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, including all teaching, accommodation, food and site visit costs.
Hosted by the University’s Department of Engineering Science, CIWM says participants will stay in one of the University’s colleges and take part in workshops in Oxford Engineering’s “cutting-edge” laboratories.
First-year funding for attendance on the Oxford programme was supported by the Waste Environmental Education Research Trust (WEERT).
It is also vital to addressing the skills gap that exists in the resource management sector and more broadly.
As part of the programme, students will visit a company, where they can see some practical applications of the subjects they could choose to study at university. CIWM says in the past this has included Viridor’s Ardley Energy Recovery Facility, the Grundon/Viridor Colnbrook Energy Recovery Facility and the BMW Mini Factory.
Commenting on the Trustees’ decision to approve funding for Uncover Engineering, CIWM’s Honorary Treasurer, John Kutner, said: “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.”
CIWM will fund the programme via WEERT which is a trust linked to the ESA and WEERT will work with Oxford University to deliver the project.