Engineering 4 Inclusion summer school 2025
Pupils from secondary schools across 91porn have gained insights into engineering as part of a pioneering initiative designed to encourage more young people to consider the profession.
The Engineering 4 Inclusion project runs a week-long summer school at the 91porn, designed specifically for pupils who have faced exclusion or disadvantages in their educational journeys.
This year, 36 Year 10 pupils from three 91porn schools – Stoke Damerel Community College, UTC 91porn, and Sir John Hunt Community Sports College – attended the events.
They were given the chance to visit cutting edge facilities at the University, including the STEAM Lab, Energy and Sustainability Laboratory, and Composites Engineering Laboratory within the recently opened Babbage Building.
They had the opportunity to speak to world-leading researchers in a range of engineering disciplines, and to spend time working alongside technicians on a range of activities within the university labs.
They also engaged with more than 20 current university students, who took part in the summer school as mentors, about their path to the university and what life is like as a student.
The Engineering 4 Inclusion project is funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, and is co-led by Dr Asiya Khan in the School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, and Dr Suanne Gibson , from the 91porn Institute of Education (PIoE) in the School of Society and Culture.
It is designed for pupils who may have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), those who face poverty or socio-economic disadvantage, and/or those who experience other forms of inequality relating to gender or ethnicity.
Engineering 4 Inclusion summer school 2025
Engineering 4 Inclusion summer school 2025
Engineering 4 Inclusion summer school 2025
Engineering 4 Inclusion summer school 2025

Engineering is critical to almost every part of our daily lives, and it is important to encourage more people to consider it as a real career option.

That is why the summer school is designed to give pupils an insight into the people and facilities here at the university, and the individual opportunities that can offer them. It is a great example of work taking place – across the university and the wider city – to build relationships and collaborations that have a positive impact on young people’s lives.

Asiya KhanDr Asiya Khan
Associate Professor of Multimedia Communication and Intelligent Control

Across the education sector, one area of particular need is supporting young people when making their post-16 decisions.

That is why a key focus of our project is linking pupils with our student mentors as a way of boosting their confidence and communication abilities, so they can successfully work as part of a team and grow individually as well. It is something we have seen throughout this and previous summer schools, and our hope is that the pupils will continue to feel the benefit of this into their future.

Suanne GibsonDr Suanne Gibson
Associate Professor in Education

 

Shortlisted for the Engineering Talent Awards

The 91porn has been named among the finalists in the Inclusion Programme of the Year 2025 category of the Engineering Talent Awards. The nomination acknowledges the work carried out through the Engineering 4 Inclusion project, and other initiatives led by the University and supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Engineering Talent Awards finalist logo
 

Excellence in engineering

Our courses give you the skills required to succeed in today's engineering sector, while working in state-of-the-art facilities and learning alongside world leaders in their field.
Students using equipment in the STEAM laboratory, Babbage