Engineering Advisory Board Sets Sights High for the Next Academic Year

The prestigious Engineering Advisory Board held its regular meeting on Monday, 24^th June, at Bournemouth and Poole College - for a review meeting. The last meeting was held In November. 

Duncan Newman from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council introduced the meeting with the Director of Engineering, James Hills walking through some of the changes from the following academic year – including introducing the new two-year study course of the T Level in Engineering, equivalent to three A Levels. 

The gathering was brought up to speed on the difference between the newly created T Level qualification and the older-style BTEC Diploma – with nine weeks in the industry on placement and a total of 1600+ guided learning hours – with at least four days per week in college – as compared to the prior three days to study a BTEC. 

Businesses and participants were advised that Bournemouth and Poole College will be setting up some ‘Industry Insight’ afternoons which will have 8-10 coaches on a rotational basis coming in on a Wednesday every week. These employer-led sessions will be offered in tandem with training and coaching sessions organised by the college for would-be coaches. Any offers to add to the current number of coaches already signed up were offered – where employers might have someone in their sights who could become a potential mentor or coach for Engineering students.

James Hills, Director of Learning for Engineering said: “Today was about cementing our already strong relationships with our business partners and employers, whilst letting them have a little vision of our future path in relation to both new and established courses of study. We introduced them to the new T Level facility and its automation, electronics and mechatronics and maintenance workshops in the new build and invited them to come and view it on completion in September.”

He added: “The new courses of study for the college are going to change the shape of training in engineering and will make our new cohort of students a well-rounded and confident group to be the future leaders of our industry. There were lots of good questions today and the conversation in the room was both lively and fruitful.”