Diploma for 14 to 19-year-olds
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3rd Mar 2010
New Diploma takes learning to a new level
More students in Sunderland are being encouraged to sign up for the second year of an exciting new qualification which offers teenagers the chance to work with leading manufacturing companies and develop their entrepreneurial talent.
As part of Manufacturing Week (March 1-5), young people considering their options for next September are being urged to find out more about the Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design. As well as being available again in Sunderland, the qualification is being rolled out further afield across the north-east, including in South Tyneside, Gateshead and Newcastle.
The Diploma in MPD was launched in Sunderland and 12 other areas around England last September. A total of 17 students from Monkwearmouth School signed up for the first year and have been able to work with leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, Caterpillar, and inventor and engineer, Gary Thompson, the man behind product design consultancy C2M (Concept to Manufacture).
Technology development manager and former engineer, Dave Holyoak, who now works at Monkwearmouth School teaching the Diploma in MPD, said: “In 20 years of teaching this has to be one of the most challenging and stimulating courses I have taught, not only for the students but for me as a teacher.
“It is a totally new way of learning for the students and takes it beyond anything they have done previously. It is very hands-on and is not only about manufacturing but business studies, enterprise and marketing. We have had an excellent first year with the Diploma in MPD. Support from the Industrial Trust has helped us to develop fantastic relationships with manufacturing businesses in the area. Their involvement has given a breath of fresh air to the curriculum and you can see the students have benefitted.
“We’re really keen to build on this start and get even more students on the course for next year. It’s a great opportunity for young people to learn what manufacturing is really about and develop skills in aspects of business management. For young people who are interested in finding out about careers in manufacturing and engineering, or who have ambitions about running their own business or working in creative industries, the Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design is the qualification for them.”
In the coming months, Sunderland students will be working with Rolls Royce and Remploy, Sunderland University and the banking industry where they will learn about product development, materials testing, equality and diversity in the workplace and business planning.
Manufacturing Week is being organised by trade body the EEF. A series of events around the country promoting the sector will culminate on Friday with the publication of a manifesto outlining a strategy for putting the UK’s manufacturing sector at the heart of efforts to rebuild the economy, which will include careers promotion, education and training.
Nigel Fletcher, Education & Skills Adviser at the EEF, said: “There are a huge number of career opportunities at all levels within manufacturing, and young people should be given every encouragement to take advantage of them. The new Diploma in MPD is an important development, which will help many talented individuals get the skills they need to succeed in this sector. The demand from employers for better-qualified staff means the rewards can be considerable for those who make the right choices.”
The Diploma in MPD is one of 14 new Diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds developed to sit alongside GCSEs and A-Levels. It offers a fully rounded education designed to give hands-on experience and develop essential skills relevant to manufacturing. It is delivered by consortia, or partnerships, of local schools, colleges and employers, enabling students to divide their time between the classroom, college, and the workplace.
Employers play a crucial role delivering the Diploma in MPD by working in partnership with schools and colleges to host site visits, give presentations, arrange work experience placements and mentor students through projects.
For more information, visit the website for the Diploma in Manufacturing and Product Design, at http://www.manufacturingdiploma.co.uk/ or www.sun1419.net
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Manufacturing Diploma Development Partnership, by Nexnet PR, Leeds, www.nexnet.co.uk. For further information call Nexnet on 0113 247 0029 or email joanne.mead@nexnet.co.uk or paul.newham@nexnet.co.uk.
