Technocamps has been recognised for the work it does across Wales by being shortlisted in the inaugural Wales STEM Awards.
Technocamps is a pan-Wales schools, community and industry outreach programme based at Swansea University with hubs in every University across Wales. It is privileged to be among 42 innovative companies, projects, and individuals to be named finalists in this year’s highly anticipated awards, which celebrate those championing and making a difference to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) in Wales.
Technocamps has been shortlisted in the category STEM Educational Programme of the Year where judges were looking for evidence of an initiative which either: addresses the STEM diversity gap; addresses the skills shortage; or seeks to inspire and raise the aspirations of the next generation. Technocamps is recognised as being outstanding in all three of these criteria.
Technocamps’ traditional activity concentrates on providing hands-on workshops for Secondary Schools in order to encourage the take-up of computing and STEM subjects at GCSE and A-level and beyond. Its Playground Computing programme works with Primary Schools in order to counter the recognized problem of specific groups of young people – particularly girls – disengaging with STEM subjects in the transition period between Primary and Secondary.
Its Technoteach programme provides much-needed professional development and training to teachers charged with delivering the new computing curriculum. This is particularly important given that 75% of the nation’s ICT teachers have no formal training in ICT let alone the scientific subject of computing which they are being asked to deliver with the new curriculum.
Finally, the Institute of Coding in Wales represents the industrial arm of Technocamps providing professional development opportunities to the nation’s businesses. In particular, Technocamps has led the way with the provision of digital degree apprenticeships, providing Wales’ first (and still only) graduating cohort of degree apprenticeship students in 2019.
All finalists will now be considered by an industry-leading panel of Welsh entrepreneurial minds, with the winner of each of the 15 categories being announced at the awards ceremony at Cardiff’s City Hall on 1st May.
Head judge Louise Bright, founder of the Wales Women in STEM network, said:
“We have been overwhelmed by the number of entries. We really feel that our shortlist represents some of the most progressive organisations and individuals at the forefront of STEM innovation in Wales.”
Professor Faron Moller, Director of Technocamps, said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for this award. To be considered alongside some of the most amazing initiatives in the country is humbling, and we are delighted to have the recognition for the hard work that we do.”
