Pupils help launch new College initiative

Jamie Hepburn, the Minister for Employability and Training, and 100 local school pupils helped launch Edinburgh College’s new science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) manifesto.

It outlines how the college will deliver STEM-related education to ensure that students are prepared for the modern workplace, giving them better progression opportunities and ensuring that employers get the right skills they need to grow their business.

Guests at the launch included 100 S1 and S2 pupils from local schools who interacted with a range of STEM activities and experiments.

These included how to programme a robot car, using virtual reality for welding training and the science behind bath bombs. The pupils also learned about STEM-related career options.

Mr Hepburn said: “We want everyone in Scotland to be supported to develop their STEM capability and skills from their earliest years, through school, college and university.

“The transition from education to work is an important phase in the life of a young person.

“Therefore it is vital that our young people are given the STEM skills they require in today’s rapidly changing labour market.”