The University of Manchester’s Technical Skills and Development Team and wider UoM colleagues are at the forefront of engaging with the local education providers in line with post-16 education reforms.

Week commencing the 19^th April 2022, for two of the planned 10 weeks industry placements, we accommodated 4 digital T-Level students across our faculties, to showcase the plethora of digital interactions available across teaching and research.

The placement students currently studying locally at The Manchester College, were enthused during the entire period, from meeting CEO James Baker, touring GEIC facilities in line with SpaceX and Graphene research with Vivek Koncherry, handling and digitising Papyrus in John Rylands with Tony Richards, using 3D scanning of access routes with John Piprani, software development with Iain Hart and Anthony Matthews, and IT service desk support with Michelle Clayton.

The students even experienced Histological techniques followed by Bioimaging with Peter March, plus touring Geography laboratories followed by a lecture on data analysis with Tom Bishop. The action did not stop here as the students also spent time with colleagues touring areas where digital interaction takes place such as, Chemical Engineering with Peter Koukoulas, Jodrell Bank Observatory with Neil Roddis, and the wider team.

This involvement with Manchester College is born out of our ambition to promote technical careers at the University to the future talent within our community, and potentially provide a feeder for our talent pipeline. T-levels will replace current vocational learning (BTEC’s) to align with the demands employers seek from young talent about to enter the world of work. Our intention is to lead the drive to provide industry placements, showcase our technical talent across campus, and hopefully attract local talent into our future workforce.

Our next T-Level students undertaking industry placements will be studying Healthcare Science, and Engineering.

As T-levels become part of our new education remit, if anyone would like more information or wish to contribute to our efforts, please contact laura-jane.williams@manchester.ac.uk

T-level students touring GEIC with CEO James Baker

Post written by: Laura-Jane Williams (Technical Apprenticeship Programme Coordinator, Skills and Development)
Date: 19th May 2022

Related