ENGINEERING

Designing and Building Functional Engineering Prototypes

In this IgnitED Engineering session, participants gain hands‑on experience in practical engineering by designing and building functional prototypes, including a bionic hand and an automatic bridge. Participants work with key mechanical systems such as slider‑cranks and rack‑and‑pinion mechanisms, applying theory to real‑world designs.

Using servo motors, Arduino boards, and industry‑standard tools, participants build and test their prototypes, learning how engineering concepts are transformed into working systems used across industry. The session emphasises core engineering principles, teamwork, and iterative problem‑solving - helping develop both technical skills and collaborative abilities.

Participants will understand how engineering design works in practice and also see how innovation, creativity, and collaboration drive progress in modern engineering careers.

Exploring University Pathways for Engineers

In this IgnitED Engineering session, participants gain a clear understanding of the university routes into engineering careers. We guide students through entry requirements, application processes, and the different qualification pathways available - from BEng and MEng degrees to apprenticeships and integrated programmes.

Using real course data, online tools, and student experience metrics, Participants compare engineering programmes across universities to see how each option aligns with their goals. The session also introduces the new UCAS personal statement structure, showing how to craft stronger applications that stand out to admissions tutors.

By connecting academic choices directly to professional engineering pathways, we learn how decisions made at university level influence the careers open to them. This practical insight helps Participants design a personal action plan that links study options to long‑term opportunities in engineering, technology, and industry.

Control Systems and Autonomous Design in Engineering

This IgnitED Engineering session immerses Participants in the world of control systems and autonomous design, where electronics and programming meet real‑world engineering. We work hands‑on with relays, sensors, servo motors, and Arduino coding, discovering how circuits translate sensor input into precise, controlled movement.

By wiring, programming, and testing their own systems, participants apply theory directly to group projects that simulate autonomous technologies. Peer feedback and iterative design help them refine their solutions, mirroring the way modern engineers develop robotics, automation, and smart systems.

The session highlights how control engineering principles underpin innovations across industry, from robotics and automotive systems to advanced manufacturing. Participants leave with practical experience in coding, circuit design, and teamwork, and a deeper understanding of how autonomous systems are created, tested, and applied in professional engineering environments.

Co‑Lab: Collaborative Learning and Industry Reflection at IgnitED

Co‑Lab is a daily feature of the IgnitED programme, bringing participants together for collaborative problem‑solving, structured reflection, and interdisciplinary learning.

Each day, Participants step into mixed‑discipline teams, to identify global themes, emerging challenges, and explore how different fields of engineering, medicine, business, legal, and artistic creative industries intersect in real professional environments.

Every Co‑Lab group tackles an interdisciplinary challenge project. These challenges require participants to pool knowledge, negotiate approaches, and deliver joint solutions, mirroring the teamwork and innovation demanded in modern careers.

This unique combination of guided reflection and cross‑industry collaboration helps IgnitED participants:

• Make sense of their daily learning experiences

• Understand the wider context of their chosen career pathway

• Build communication, problem‑solving, and teamwork skills valued across all industries

Co‑Lab ensures that every participant leaves not only with industry insights but also with the transferable skills and collaborative mindset that employers and universities look for.