Local teens turbocharge their STEM skills by building and racing toy EVs at ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ Summer School
Sixty local schoolchildren have been gaining hands-on engineering experience at the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½â€™s Discover University Summer School – a four-day, three-night residential program for eligible participants. Teenagers gained insight into university life by meeting and working with staff and students through an interactive and varied timetable, in addition to staying in university accommodation.
As part of the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½â€™s award-winning programme, colleagues within the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences delivered a workshop, where participants spent the morning assembling their own electric cars from kits, learning key engineering skills and testing their teamwork, creativity and problem-solving abilities before putting their cars to the test on the track. The kits were designed and prepared by ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½â€™s engineering technicians, who not only sourced the materials but also assisted in running the workshops.
Our Summer School workshops are a brilliant opportunity for young people in the local community, and it was so great to see their excitement and pride as they watched their designs come to life. Experiences like this are so important for sparking an interest in STEM and planting the seeds for future careers. I’m incredibly proud of our team, who put in so much effort designing the kits and helping make the event such a success.Myles Jenkinson, Design and Engineering Manager, ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½
Myles Jenkinson with two workshop participants
The impact of ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½â€™s summer outreach programme extends well beyond the holidays. One such example is Jaime Chatfield, who took part in several of the University’s Summer Schools while a student at Kings College secondary school in Guildford. The varying activities sparked her passion for practical problem-solving and gave her the confidence to pursue a path she hadn’t previously considered. She is now completing an apprenticeship in the University’s Engineering Centre – an opportunity made possible by her early experience on the programme.
I had no idea what I wanted to do after school, but when I joined the Summer School and started building and testing structures, I realised I could really thrive in a hands-on environment – and that engineering might actually be for me. Since then, the apprenticeship has helped me grow in confidence, build real skills and look ahead to a career in underwater welding or structural engineering. I’d also love to inspire more young women into the field.Jaime Chatfield, Engineering Apprentice, ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½
The kits before they are assembled
Jaime has now come full circle, supporting the same outreach programmes that once inspired her. The ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½â€™s Widening Participation and Success Team delivers many outreach initiatives, including summer schools, throughout the year that showcase and celebrate the subjects students can learn across higher education and at the ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ specifically.
We are very grateful to Myles and his team for providing such an innovative and engaging workshop for our summer school participants. Opportunities such as these continue to enrich our outreach activities and provide memorable experiences for the young people involved.Rob Thatcher, Head of Widening Participation & Success, ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½
These programmes are a key part of ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½â€™s commitment to social mobility, inclusion and building a future generation of skilled engineers. The Widening Participation & Success Team will be advertising their 2026 Summer Schools from January.
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Notes to editors
- For more information about Widening Participation’s ¿Û¿Û´«Ã½ Scholars programme visit
- Myles Jenkinson is available for interview; please contact mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk to arrange.
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