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Building Industry Events and Training
News Release from: ConstructionSkills
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 27 July 2005
CITB-ConstructionSkills scholars
credentials
Students from the Arkwright Scholarship Programme present their vision for university housing or single person's accommodation to industry experts.
Ten high-flying sixth-form students from the Arkwright Scholarship Programme will present their vision for university housing or single person's accommodation to a panel of industry experts at the National Construction College's (NCC) campus in Norfolk The presentations mark the end of an intensive week of activity at the college, designed by CITB-ConstructionSkills to give the students some practical experience of construction, as well as some more generic skills such as presentation and interview techniques
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 24 Mar 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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Five of the students are sponsored by CITB-ConstructionSkills as part of the Arkwright Sponsorship Programme, aimed at encouraging the most talented young people to consider a career in the field of Design and Engineering.
"Part of our role as the sector skills council for construction is ensuring that the industry has the right skills at the right time," commented Paul Sykes, recruitment manager at CITB-ConstructionSkills.
"Recruiting the right calibre students is an important element in helping us to achieve that aim, which is where projects such as the Arkwright Scholarship Programme can play an important role".
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The week's activities at NCC, the training division of CITB-ConstructionSkills, involve a range of hands on construction activities, such as a site visit to a Mansell site in Norwich and a series of workshops and presentations from people in the construction industry.
As well as master classes on how to work effectively as part of a team, the students are also tasked with designing either university housing/residence for students, or single person's accommodation on leaving university/starter homes.
Consideration must be given to the following issues: environmental, such as using sustainable materials; economical (affordability); social.
The underlying theme on all projects is sustainability.
The students then have to create a model of their design, and present their thoughts to a panel of industry experts.
"This is a great example of industry and academia coming together to ensure that our students have both the practical and theoretical knowledge to be able to make an informed decision on what career they would like to pursue," added Sykes.
"Obviously, we hope that some of them will go on to become part of our highly qualified and skilled construction workforce".
Criteria for receiving a scholarship from the Arkwright Programme include undergoing a rigorous selection process involving a comprehensive application, examination and interview.
Selection criteria dictates that students must be:.
* Actively considering higher education in Engineering, Product or Industrial Design.
* In Year 11 (final year of GCSE or Scottish Standard Grades).
* Making a commitment to Dand T at AS level and preferably to A2 in the Sixth Form or alternatively able to demonstrate enthusiasm and aptitude in practical engineering or technology.
* Making a commitment to Maths at AS Level and preferably to A2 in the Sixth Form.
Last year, 166 students were awarded a scholarship place, with a similar number of places available again this year.
CITB-ConstructionSkills's sponsorship of eight Arkwright Scholarship places complements its newly launched GBP1 million grant scheme for undergraduates - 'Inspire Scholarship'.
The scheme offers 60 students a year up to GBP9,000 to help fund their studies, and also provides them with on-site experience with top employers, as well as the possibility of a permanent job after graduation.
Arkwright Scholars, along with others who want to go on to study a construction related degree course, are eligible to apply for an Inspire Scholarship.
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