The Diploma in Engineering is a new, innovative and ground-breaking qualification for all young people, which has been designed and developed by employers.
The approach of this Diploma is fresh and original. By immersing young people in the excitement and potential of working in the real world of engineering, it will blend together the best of academic and applied learning.
It will create a new generation of individuals with many of the skills that businesses need in their new recruits, and be taught by local consortia of schools, colleges, businesses and others.
The Diploma in Engineering consists of three areas of learning: principal, additional / specialist and generic.
Principal learning
This includes:
- The Engineered World: the importance and impact of engineering on our lives.
- Discovering Engineering Technology: basic engineering principles
- Engineering the Future: what makes innovations succeed, how new materials contribute to design, how to develop and launch new ideas
Students also do a minimum of 10 days’ engineering work experience and get the chance to learn from professionals.
Additional/specialist learning
Learners can choose other additional or specialist learning options to meet their personal interests and career goals. They could possibly choose engineering topics like robotics, medical engineering, aerospace, and others. Or they can widen their learning by studying another subject such as a language, humanities or arts.
Students also complete a project to demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have acquired, for example;
- What part could Engineering play in reducing energy bills?
- How can Engineering improve the lives of people with disabilities?
Generic learning
English, Maths and ICT are also taught, with these subjects related to engineering.
Students also learn teamwork and self-management skills, learn how to express themselves confidently, and how to apply their knowledge and skills creatively in a business environment.
The Diploma is designed to broaden a young person’s horizons and give them a wide range of next-step options.
There are three different levels of Diploma:
- Foundation (equivalent to 5 GCSEs at grades D to G)
- Higher (equivalent to 7 GCSEs at grades A* to C)
- Advanced (equivalent to 3.5 A Levels, worth 420 UCAS points)
There is also a Progression level Diploma, which is like the Advanced Diploma, but without various options, and is equivalent to 2 A Levels. It is worth 300 UCAS points.
There is also an Extended Diploma, which has more generic and additional and specialist learning. It will be available from 2011.
The Progression, Advanced and Extended Diploma could both lead on to college or university, or to further training and employment.
Students of a Foundation or Higher Diploma in Engineering might choose to go on to do a Progression, Advanced or Extended Diploma, or perhaps to do A levels. They could also decide to start an apprenticeship or take a job with further training.
A Diploma in Engineering does not mean students have to pursue a career in this sector.
Put simply, it gives students relevant, transferable skills that will be welcomed by colleges, universities and other employers.
The Diploma will take up some of the student’s time, with the rest taken up with the National Curriculum, such as GCSEs or A Levels.
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