GLASGOW SCHOOL PUPILS TAKE ON LEIDOS CHALLENGES

June was buzzing in Glasgow Science Centre as young people and their teachers and mentors from across Glasgow and Airdrie held their inaugural Education Industry Partnership (EIP) Showcase! The EIP programme, led by the Scottish Schools Education Research Centre (SSERC) in partnership with Leidos, aims to inspire young people to get engaged in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) subjects and careers by bringing industry and education together.

Fiona Keady, UK Talent Business Partner and STEM Group Chair for Leidos explained:

“As a STEM employer, we want to help reduce STEM skills shortages, increase diversity in STEM, and show that STEM education and careers can be for

EVERYONE! We know collaboration is one of the best ways to achieve this, so we’re excited to partner with SSERC to deliver the EIP programme. This unique opportunity is helping us reach and engage with more young people – not just discussing what Leidos and companies like ours do, but helping them develop valuable STEM skills, empowering them to take ownership of their own STEM path, and helping them build confidence in turn to help others.”

Through the EIP, Leidos volunteers mentor first- and secondyear pupils over a seven-month period to help them complete company challenges, ranging from designing a high school of the future to planning a New Year party in Antarctica. The programme is fully funded, including travel and teacher cover, so there are no financial barriers to schools to take part. Whilst support and guidance is on offer from their Leidos mentors, interestingly no answers are given to the pupils. This encourages them to ask questions, explore options and figure out solutions, as they would do in reality in a workplace. Throughout the programme, the pupils pass their knowledge on to peers and the wider community, helping maximise the impact and reach of the programme. On completion, every pupil earns a Young STEM Leader Award.

Having completed Year 1 of the programme with five groups of young people in June, Year 2 has introduced seven new teams who are now busy working on their chosen challenges with a view to their own showcase in June 2023. Supported schools across the two years have included: Cleveden, Jordanhill, King’s Park, Lochend, Shawlands, St Andrew’s, St Margaret’s and Woodfarm.

Cleveden Jordanhill King's Park Lochend Shawlands St Andrew's St Margaret's Woodfarm

For more information on the Leidos and SSERC Education Industry Partnership: www.sserc.org.uk/education-industry-partnerships/leidos/

For Leidos’ commitment to STEM: www.leidos.com/company/global/uk-europe/uk-stem