During the week eight Manchester Academy students took part in an exciting programme of work experience at Anglo-Danish engineering firm, ARUP.
ARUP’s engineers have brought to life designs from world’s leading architects such as Richard Rogers and Norman Foster and have been pivotal in many iconic Mancunian structures such as the Etihad Stadium and the Civil Justice Centre at Spinningfields.
ARUP’s week long work experience programme included sessions and workshops focusing on working with clients and design briefs, master planning, ecology, sustainability, bridges, transport engineering, architectural engineering, and building services.
The week’s focus was a team project in which groups had to plan a music festival to be held in Greater Manchester. The students had to put their technical learning into practice to develop their project and present their findings to assembled guests and judges from ARUP, who assessed the presentations and decided which group should be awarded the honour of best project.
The week saw much collaborative working with students from Manchester Academy working with learners from two other Manchester schools and using a wide range of employability skills such as problem solving, presenting, interpersonal skills, planning, organising, time management, negotiation and leadership.
All the Manchester Academy learners demonstrated drive and determination in seeing the successful completion of their projects and it was agreed that even though one of the teams could be crowned the winning team, it was universally agreed that all involved in ARUP’s Engineering Awareness Week were winners!
Steve Leach
Careers Advisor