Yesterday I met with Chris Speckman who is an ECS Alumni. I worked with him on a small outreach project that we are looking to expand. Here is a summary of what happened.
Chris Speckman approached Joyce Lewis in ECS to express his concern about the lack of opportunity to visit Engineering Labs for rural schools and girls in those schools. Chris had link with schools he wanted to bring in to show off the department. I worked with him to co-ordinate these visits. This is how it worked:
· Chris had the link with the school and introduced me to the contact from the school. I then arranged for Chris and I to go into the school to give a presentation to 40 sixth form students about computing careers and degrees. As well as University life in Southampton.
· We then invited a class of pupils in to the university to see campus life 35 year 8 pupils. This was successful. The school is now a regular link. For instance – 30 girls from the school attended our international womens day event. We aim to keep these links going so we invite students in atleast once in the academic year so we have a consistent stream of students from these schools coming in.
If this didn’t happen then:
I would not have pursued the school. This link would not exist.We have now opened the eyes of approx 120 students to university life.
·The teachers now know we exist.
—> Thanks to Chris for the introductions and links.