About the Big Engineering Work Experience Week
The Inspiration
In the Summer of 2020, a number of University students expressed huge disappointment at missing out on work experience due to the pandemic. A period of significant adjustments for engineering companies meant either cancellations or reduced site/ office engagements. Students were concerned that this would significantly affect their learning experience and put them at a disadvantage in the job market.
The Response
Determined to support in a tangible way, Yewande Akinola joined by Hema Vallabh, Nike Folayan and Simran Dhadda designed a week of immersive exposure to design, technology and entrepreneurship for the built environment. Yewande reached out to some of the most inspirational Engineers, Technologists and Entrepreneurs to offer their time to the students. The response was fantastic. The week gained the support of 20 world leading professionals from their base in the UK, the US, China, Canada, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa. who gave in-depth sessions on their respective disciplines and areas of expertise. The BIG Work Experience Virtual Week evolved into a week of immersive exposure to design, technology and entrepreneurship for a sustainable built environment. Over the last 3 years, the work experience week team have worked closely with over 160 engineering students, with an additional 400+ benefiting from the live streams.
The Programme
The Big Engineering Work Experience Week is an Engineering, Innovation and Technology virtual work experience week open to students all over the world. With a strong Engineering & Technology for Sustainable Development theme, it has been designed to give students real life insight into Industry approach to Sustainability. It prepares students for Industry and supports their understanding of various career paths.