Workshop
Introduce students to systems thinking through interactive simulations and real-world engineering challenges. This award-winning UCL-led workshop builds leadership, decision-making and problem-solving skills, with a recognised JSTP certificate.
Engineering Systemisers is a UCL-led initiative designed to equip young people aged 11-18 with the mindset and skills to tackle complex real-world challenges.
Using interactive simulations, systems thinking and engineering design methods, students discover how engineers analyse problems, make decisions and improve the systems around us.
Students take part in engaging, hands-on, discovery-based workshops where they think and act like systems engineers. Working in teams, they explore real-world challenges linked to areas such as healthcare, transport, energy and space. Through structured simulations, collaborative tasks and design activities, students develop their ability to analyse complexity, generate ideas and work effectively with others.
Sessions are led by experienced facilitators with academic and industry backgrounds.
Ideal group size: up to 20 students. Flexible delivery options available.
The workshops combine:
• Interactive simulations
• Engineering challenges and case studies
• Short guided inputs (mini-lectures)
• Group discussions and reflection
Available formats
• Level 1: Junior Systems Thinking Practitioner (JSTP), flagship 1-day workshop
• Level 2: Junior Systems Engineering Practitioner (JSEP), extended 2-day workshop
Cost
Costs vary by format, with bursaries available for eligible schools and students.
Catchment area
Delivered by UCL spin-out Systems Frontier Lab who are based in Cambridge. They typically deliver in-person workshops within 100 miles of Cambridge, including parts of:
• Greater London (priority delivery)
• East of England
• East Midlands
• South East England
• West Midlands
• Yorkshire and the Humber
Please enquire if you are outside this area, as some bookings may still be possible.
Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects
Improve attainment and progress in STEM subjects
Develop engineering employability skills
Improve awareness and aspirations for STEM-related study and careers
Challenge stereotypes by showing the diversity of disciplines, people and skills involved in engineering
The Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for good careers guidance for schools across all of England and in some areas across the rest of the UK. This experience helps your school to reach the following benchmarks:
The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:
Planning - Setting goals and designing routes to achieve them
Creativity - Using imagination and generating new ideas
Problem solving - Finding solutions to challenges
Teamwork - Working cooperatively with others to achieve a shared goal
What the teachers sayLog in to write a testimonialWe would love to read all about your time with this experience!
The students really enjoyed the session - I personally haven't seen them so engaged with an activity since we started the Engineering academy, so thank you for that! They enjoyed the inter-team competition and liked the fact they were working as individuals for the benefit of a team - this is a really good skill for them to learn.
It was a pleasure to observe our students participating in the UCL session. The students were remarkably engaged throughout, and the activities effectively maintained their focus for an extended period. The session fostered crucial skills. Students were required to communicate clearly, learn from their errors, and collaborate effectively. It was particularly rewarding to witness some of the less vocal students find their voice and actively participate, while others developed their listening skills. The activities were not only strongly aligned with the science curriculum, specifically on the topic of energy, but also complemented our school's focus on developing oracy skills. The ambassadors leading the sessions were excellent. They communicated clearly and patiently with the students, and their approachable manner quickly put everyone at ease. Thank you for this valuable experience, we would be happy to repeat the sessions with more students in the future.
It was a pleasure to have our students participating in the UCL Engineering Systemisers workshop. This was our first time participating and our students thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was great to see the high level of engagement and the facilitators were fantastic and students learnt so much from them throughout the course of the day. The competition was the highlight of the day for our students as they were able to show their level of creativeness and team work. Thank you so much for bringing such a wonderful experience to our school.
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