Filling the skills gap with LEGO
This year, as part of 125 years of Bosch in the UK and Ireland, Bosch have partnered with FIRST® LEGO® League, an exciting hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme which engages children and young people from 4-16 years old in learning about STEM topics whilst having fun. Promoting education in particular around STEM topics has always been important to Bosch, and with the skills gap ever present in the engineering sector, even more pressing today.
The team kicked off the competition element of the programme with the first Bosch hosted CHALLENGE tournament held at Coventry University. Whilst this is the first year of Bosch taking part in the FIRST® LEGO® League programme, Coventry University have partnered as a host for a number of years and this year joined forces with Bosch to deliver this tournament event on 28th January.
The FIRST® LEGO® League competition provides students with a fun and interactive way to develop new skills in coding, design, and research, all key skills for a career in STEM.
Setting students a ‘Challenge’
In the competition, the teams were tasked with competing in three robot matches where they were challenged to complete as many ‘missions’ in the 2.5 minute games round as they could, using a LEGO built motorised robot which is loaded with code that the students have created to complete the missions. Schools also have to present an ‘innovation project’ which shows their creativity and thought behind this year’s theme of ‘Superpowered’ – all about energy management and sustainability.
Eight teams from local schools and community groups from across the Coventry area participated in the tournament event day. For this event, Bosch UK provided a FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge kit to the Warwick Manufacturing Group Academy secondary school to allow them to compete in the challenge.
Throughout this upcoming season we have supported 12 schools with Challenge kits to allow them to compete in the competition and these schools will attend future tournaments.
A team effort
These events couldn’t be run without the Bosch volunteers. Barrie Flemming, Project Coordinator for the programme for Bosch said “We were thankful to have a great selection of associates keen to take part. Our STEM ambassador network is growing across all divisions, with associates keen to help inspire the next generation. Thank you to all our volunteers for their time and dedication to this initiative, their help on the day was invaluable and we couldn’t have run such a successful event without their input and enthusiasm. We hope everyone found it as satisfying to take part in as we have!”
Mortada Kamareddine who is working for Bosch in Coventry as part of the Bosch intern programme was a participant in the FIRST® LEGO® League programme as a student in Lebanon and got through to the Arab World finals. He supported at this year’s Coventry event as a games referee. “Participating in FLL at a young age was an eyeopener as it helped me develop an understanding of different engineering fundamentals and problem-solving skills. It also allowed me to meet people that work in the industry and ask questions on how to develop a career in STEM which brought me to where I am at today. It was a pleasure to take part of this event at Coventry and help out all these future STEM workers”. He is just one example of how supporting initiatives such as this can engage young people to consider a career in STEM and contribute to developing the STEM skills set in the UK.
A rewarding event
Sue Shrosbree, Corporate Communications Director for Bosch UK said “The tournament day was a great success, with everyone enjoying themselves and getting involved in cheering the teams on. The students were so excited and there was a great atmosphere. It was inspiring to see what they had accomplished. Every team can be really proud of what they have achieved today – not just in having a great tournament but also in displaying the core values of teamwork, gracious professionalism and inclusion.”
The tournament Champions “Team CERC” will go on to the national final to compete for the national trophy in Harrogate on 22nd April.
