Bringing industry and education together to maximise learner outcomes

Building on our first two hugely successful EIP years with Leidos, SSERC is delighted to announce our new plans for Year Three. We are now inviting applications from teachers of STEM (primary and secondary) in the West of Scotland to take part in the Leidos and SSERC STEM Challenge 2023/24.

Leidos and SSERC STEM Challenge

This fully funded challenge, taking place in the academic year 2023/24, is open to primary and secondary schools in Glasgow, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire. Selected schools will choose a small team of up to six pupils and at least one teacher to participate. We encourage a broad range of pupil participation, from those working at BGE level, all the way up to Senior Phase Learners. Teams will select and build their own themed challenge from a range of options and will be mentored by a STEM Ambassador from Leidos who will support and coach the team throughout to produce their solution. All teams taking part will then exhibit their solutions at a Glasgow Showcase in June 2024 and will also be rewarded with a visit to the IMAX cinema and exhibitions at Glasgow Science Centre.

Please note that teachers wishing to take part must be trained Tutor Assessors for the Young STEM Leader Programme. For training events, see: https://www.youngstemleader.scot/events

Check out the partnership showcase video here:

Challenge options for 2023/24

  1. This year, teams have the opportunity for even more originality and choice!
  2. Step 1: Choose your challenge from the list below, all inspired by the Leidos Values:

    1 Commitment Redesign the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games (just in time for them returning in Paris in 2024!).

    2 Inclusion Design/create an accessible public garden for all ages.

    3 Innovation Design a sustainable theme park.

    4 Agility Design a useful, multi-functional product that can turn into other things or be used in other ways for multiple purposes.

    5 Collaboration Produce a blockbuster movie OR community festival involving your whole school.

    6 Integrity Design a new security system for international travel.

    7 STEM outreach Deliver a STEM engagement event for your school or local community to encourage more people to get involved in STEM.

    Step 2: Align your challenge to one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Timeline

Applications open.

Applications close – midnight on Friday 15th September.

The selection process takes place and schools are notified. Selected schools choose pupil teams with guidance provided by SSERC.

Teacher launch day at Leidos HQ in Glasgow – Thursday 28th September, 13:00 to 15:00.

Pupil launch day (online via Teams); challenges set to all school teams – Tuesday 7th November, 10:00 to 11:30.

Pupil teams and teachers work with their Leidos Mentor STEM Ambassador to solve their chosen challenge. Each team visits Leidos. Each Leidos Mentor STEM Ambassador visits their partner school. Fortnightly updates to Mentor STEM Ambassadors by the pupil team. Monthly progress reports to Mentor STEM Ambassadors by the pupil team. Teams complete their Young STEM Leader Logs.

Teacher check-in and progress sharing (online via Teams) – Thursday 25th April, 16:00 to 17:00

Teams exhibit their solutions at the Glasgow Showcase in Leidos HQ, followed by a reward trip to the IMAX cinema and Glasgow Science Centre Mall – Thursday 6th June, all day.

More information

Email us at partnerships@sserc.scot To learn more about EIPs, visit https://www.sserc.org.uk/education-industry-partnerships/