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6/07/08 > Bringing Engineering & Business challenges to young minds – Sensdata in association with the Department for Education & Skills Young Enterprise, and STEMNET.

Sensdata has been working in partnership with the Department for Education & Skills Young Enterprise, and STEMNET – the Science, Technology & Mathematics Network, to bring business and engineering challenges into South Yorkshire primary school classrooms, through two unique initiatives.

In association with STEMNET, Sensdata’s Dr Brown introduced children in Years 3-6 at St Albans Church of England School, Wickersley Rotherham, and Halfway Junior School, Sheffield, to the rudiments of engineering, using the K’Nex challenge initiative.

“The K’Nex competition provides primary school children with an introduction to the exciting world of design and engineering,” explained Dr Brown.

“Teams of two are challenged to solve a brief by designing and building a solution using the K’Nex model making system. With only two hours to complete their model, it’s a fantastic opportunity to test their imagination, creativity and ingenuity.”

The K’Nex competition runs throughout the year and contains 4 levels - School, County/Area, Regional and National. Each level has different fun challenges set by Young Engineers and the judging criteria include categories such as communication, design, problem solving and visual appeal.

Sensdata has also been ‘back to school’ with Young Enterprise – the UK’s leading business and enterprise education charity, to deliver a series of short classes to Year 6 children that introduce the complexities of Global Trade.

Sensdata’s Dr Brown introduced subjects including: imports & exports, natural & manufactured resources, market planning, and strategies used by countries to develop wealth & international exports.

“The subject area certainly raised a few eyebrows amongst parents, yet the children found the interactive sessions very lively and interesting,” Sensdata’s Managing Director, Dr Brown.

The aim of the Department for Education and Skills Young Entrprise initiative, backed by Cadbury Schweppes, is to help foster a better-motivated, educated and enterprising workforce, whilst at the same time making a real difference to the existing lives and future potential of young people who live and attend schools in their area.

Young Enterprise operates through support from the business community and the Government. This support is provided in a variety of forms: financial, in-kind, and through the provision and encouragement of volunteers.

STEMNET works with a range of partner organisations, including government, industry, professional institutions, education and other major companies.