Semta and London South Bank University launch innovative scheme for engineering undergraduates
04/02/2011 Enginuity
Sector Skills Council, Semta today announced the launch of a groundbreaking new scheme designed to meet the skills needs of engineering employers.The initiative, developed by Semta in partnership with London South Bank University (LSBU), will see engineering undergraduate students being trained to higher apprenticeship standards during work placements with small and medium-sized companies whilst completing their studies.
Higher level skills are growing in importance to the long-term future of the engineering sector as low-cost engineering moves abroad and the UK increasingly competes at a higher level in the value chain. The scheme will allow undergraduates to achieve an additional qualification during their studies, making them more employable in line with employers' demands and more attractive as they enter a competitive employee market.
Philip Whiteman, Chief Executive of Semta said: "We are uniquely placed to understand the individual skills needs of businesses in our sectors. Many of the 130,000 companies we represent are demanding higher level knowledge and practical skills. Our industries need 10,000 recruits a year with higher level skills between now and 2016.
"This new scheme is typical of the innovative solutions that Semta is pioneering - bringing together leading industry organisations and valuable SME businesses to give students a real taste of working life, and helping smaller businesses get involved in the skills development process."
Funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering as part of its National Higher Education STEM Programme, the scheme is supported by the Engineering Council, The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), The Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and Linking London (Lifelong Learning Network). The IET and IMechE will be supporting the students' work-based training and their degree studies for professional registration as Engineering Technicians, Incorporated Engineers or Chartered Engineers.
Professor Rao Bhamidimarri, Executive Dean of Engineering, Science and the Built Environment at LSBU commented: "This project represents an innovative mechanism to bring industry and the university together, while offering students work experience in industry, enhancing their employability. SMEs will be able to host higher level apprentices without committing to providing employment once they have completed their studies and the students will benefit from the additional Higher Apprenticeship qualification and experience in the workplace."
Aims and objectives of the project:
Engaging SME employers in the development of professional engineering technicians and engineers
Improving the employability skills of undergraduate students
Improving higher education degree course curriculum in light of working with SME employers, and aligning occupational standards of competence
Getting higher education involved in apprenticeship training leading to professional engineering registration.
For further information, please visit: www.semta.org.uk
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