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Company Director’s Education Award goes ‘Global’

31/05/2018

Yorkshire based Company Director Mike Cargill has taken his idea for an Education Award linking classroom learning with global contexts to a whole new level: his company, UKSTEM Ltd., has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Wolverhampton.

The Memorandum of Understanding is a declared commitment by UKSTEM Ltd. and the University to work together in rolling out UKSTEM Ltd’s new Global STEM Award, which is also backed by the University of Hull’s Sparkfund and Mindsets, which supplies education resources to support the project.

Aimed at younger learners, the Global STEM Award encourages students to achieve Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards by completing topic-based projects which demonstrate Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) learning linked to understanding of global contexts and career opportunities in the field of STEM. Students research their project then present their learning in a variety of ways, from a drama or PowerPoint presentation to a science demonstration – or even a poetry response.

"I wanted it to be inclusive," said Mike, who launched the Award at this year’s Education Show at Birmingham’s NEC. "If a teacher asks, ‘can my students demonstrate their learning this way?’ – the answer is a definite ‘yes’. Teachers are professionals; they can be trusted to know when their students have shown sufficient learning to achieve an Award."

It’s also important for Mike that global career opportunities are part of the focus for learning: ‘There are so many worthwhile career opportunities out there in the field of STEM. Completing a Global STEM Award encourages children to gain a much better understanding of their life chances in these areas.’

Mike began his career as a Civil Engineer, then went on to become a teacher, rising to Assistant Headteacher then Apprentice Training before moving from the teaching professions to run his own company. He is still very much involved in education, and spends much of his time supporting the new Coding curriculum by training teachers to use Crumble software.

Nazira Karodia, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton, said: "The University of Wolverhampton is investing over £100 million in new facilities for its Science and Engineering Faculty and interest in our STEM courses is increasing every year. 

"We work closely with schools and colleges in the region to promote our range of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics courses with a view to addressing the skills gaps in related industries.

"We’re delighted to be involved with the Global STEM Award, which we hope will further raise the profile of STEM learning and make young people aware of the extensive career opportunities available."

The Global STEM Award is clearly a project that is close to Mike’s heart – and with the University of Wolverhampton’s much appreciated support and interest from China, it looks as if the Award will soon be going global.

 

 

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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