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The Sky's the Limit at Belfast Met Aerospace Camp
Belfast Met in partnership with Bombardier hosted a series of dynamic events for 16 – 24 year olds who have their sights set on the enterprising possibilities of aerospace.
Young aerospace enthusiasts travelled across Northern Ireland over the past two weeks. Their intensive programme of activities has included visits to Bombardier, Ulster Aviation Society, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and Belfast Met’s E3 campus. Interactive workshops such as ‘kite building’ and ‘flight in nature’ have been inspiring tomorrow’s designers and engineers.
Brian George Head of School in Engineering and Construction said –
“Our partnership with Bombardier has been ideal for reaching out to the future pioneers in aviation. These are hands-on workshops so not only have the participants been observing they are also practicing what they have been taught and are working with other like-minded young people. We have enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm and inventiveness of the learners, which is a promising sign of the what to expect from recruits in years to come”
Tony Monaghan, Bombardier Education Liaison Officer, said:
“It has been an exciting and rewarding experience to partner with the Department for Employment and Learning and Belfast Met on the aerospace summer school. The intensive programme involves a diverse and engaging series of workshops, presentations and visits, including a tour of a Bombardier manufacturing facility. The aerospace camp explores the heritage and technology behind flight and highlights the variety of career opportunities in engineering and manufacturing. “
Minister Farry visited the Northern Ireland Advanced Composites and Engineering Centre (NIACE) to meet the participants who have gained an insight to how aircraft components are designed and manufactured, and witness first hand their passion for aeronautics. Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry said:
“Congratulations to all the young people who have participated in this summer school, I am sure everyone found it interesting and rewarding coupled with increasing their interest in Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM). This is the second year my Department has partnered with Bombardier and Belfast Met, who have developed this summer school to promote the STEM agenda to young adults which is an area of strategic importance to the local economy. It is particularly pleasing to see the number of young participants double to 60 this year.
“Events such as this demonstrate that STEM can be fun and open up exciting possibilities and career choices. STEM is embedded in our everyday lives and with science and technology essential tools for improving our society and economy. The workforce of the future will be strongly reliant on these vital skills. It is increasingly important that more young people, particularly young females are encouraged to study STEM subjects and pursue careers in STEM.”
On their final day participants enjoyed a unique experience flying in a Bombardier Q400 regional aircraft from George Best Airport followed by a presentation to mark their completion of a module from a level 2 qualification in Space Science Technology.
Aerospace Camp supported by Bombardier and Department for Employment and Learning is one of the three STEM Summer Camps that have been delivered by Belfast Met to get young people involved in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects.