Education

The number of students enrolled in engineering and technology courses has fallen considerably in recent years. This means that there will be fewer future candidates for technical positions and this could affect our competitiveness and the future capability of the engineering industry.

To help address this we run a worldwide education programme aimed at encouraging young people throughout their academic careers to take an interest in science and technology. We support education in Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UK and the US.

FIRST is just one example. We partner with many schools, colleges and universities to equip young people with the skills they need for an engineering career.

UK

Schools programme

Over 350 employees (called ambassadors) from BAE Systems visit schools in the UK to help with engineering projects and to give careers advice.

Our UK Education Programme primarily targets 10 to 13-year-olds. Our Schools Roadshow which includes a theatre performance is designed to interest the pupils in science and maths and get them thinking about a career in engineering, before they make subject choices at 14.

The show visits over 100 schools each year near our major sites, involving over 10,000 young people. The team from BAE Systems was accompanied by three actors who performed a specially designed play about building a vehicle that can fly, float and work on land.

After the performance the actors divide the students into groups for a workshop. The students are challenged to build the highest structure they can, using only newspapers and sticky tape. The structure must support the weight of an iPod. BAE Systems employees are on hand to help the young people brainstorm ideas and give personal insights on how engineers approach such tasks.

The schools are challenged to devise an environmentally-friendly vehicle for the year 2050. The aim is for the students to develop an engineering design proposal whilst having fun. Our employees return to the schools twice: half way through the project to check on progress and to help develop ideas; and once more near completion to comment on the work. Every school that submits a completed project receives a certificate from BAE Systems. The best designs are showcased on www.baesystems.com/education The website also contains resources for teachers and pupils.

The programme has had a big impact. All the children are asked to complete a questionnaire about the experience and over 70% of boys and 40% of girls have said they would now consider a career in engineering.

“Before I thought engineering was just about cars, but now I know engineering is about lots of different things. Engineering is very important in our working lives.”

Pupil, St George’s School for Girls, Edinburgh

 

Higher education strategic partnerships

In the UK,we have strategic partnerships with 20 colleges and universities to build engineering research capabilities and improve graduate recruitment. In 2005, BAE Systems became the first corporate sponsor of the new National Science Learning Centre at York University. This is the first dedicated centre of excellence for the teaching of science to all age groups in the UK.

We also fund the Systems Engineering Innovation Centre (SEIC) at Loughborough University. The SEIC is a state-of-the-art centre for excellence in all areas of research and technology development, teaching and training.

Apprenticeships

BAE Systems is the largest employer of engineering apprentices in the UK, with more than 1,000 apprentices in training. Apprenticeships give young people the opportunity to gain qualifications through on-the job training. This benefits us by ensuring a strong skills set in the future.

Apprentices train in a wide range of skills, from engineering, steelwork and joinery to business administration and information technology. Overall the programme has an 87% completion and retention rate. This is high compared with other apprenticeship programmes where the rates are as low as 24%. Our Chief Executive, Mike Turner,was part of the Apprenticeship Task Force which advised the Government on how to expand and improve apprenticeships in the UK.

The Company also made formal responses to the Leitch Review of Skills and the Foster Review of Further Education. These reviews were commissioned by the Government to improve the skills base in the UK.

US

We sponsor a number of programmes to support science and technology across the US. Our scholarships to colleges and universities have enabled hundreds of students to take courses in technical fields. This support includes providing project challenges and mentors to universities and colleges and sponsorship of science and technology events.

Australia

In Australia BAE Systems supports a wide range of school and university programmes. The company works with these institutions, offering sponsorship and mentoring programmes, to inspire young people to get involved in engineering. These projects include sponsorship of South Australia's Engineering Week, mentoring programmes and support for youth business skills programmes.

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, BAE Systems supports the Saudi Government campaign to establish national vocational skill standards including sponsorship of  a conference on the next round of challenges facing those in the vocational training establishment in meeting the needs of the Saudi labour market.  We continue to support the Saudi-British Sports Cooperation Programme which aims to raise standards and introduce new sports as well as educating administrators, medical practitioners and coaches who will stimulate the development of the sector.