Global Engineering Challenge

The Global Challenge is a race around the world, against the prevailing winds, by identical yachts with volunteer crews. The last event started in 2004 in Portsmouth and finished there the following year.

Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Education Business Partnership (EBP) and Global Challenge sponsored the Global Engineering Challenge in which Portsmouth secondary schools designed and developed a product to be used as a homecoming item of memorabilia for the competitors.

The purposes of the challenge were:

• to help change the culture and perceptions of engineering, science and technology through an enjoyable but challenging experience

• to present an opportunity to work in a hi-tech medium of Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing

• to design and develop specific products that meet identified criteria

• to encourage good working practices of co-operation, market awareness and time management

• to create a spirit of healthy competition

• to develop the personal skills of all participants whatever their ability, background or gender.

They encouraged young engineers to use computer aided design and manufacturing systems as part of their product development.

Working without assistance, other than normal classroom activity, teams from Key Stages 3 and 4 had to meet a tight product specification:

• the product had to be capable of being manufactured in large quantities (500 or more)

• the final material cost for each item could not exceed 50p

• the design folio had to consist of no more than 4 x A3 sheets

• the final design had to fit inside a 100mm cube.

The comprehensive Teachers' Notes, as well as setting out the conditions of the challenge, offered an EBP grant of £100 towards resources and materials. Over 100 young people from six schools took part and eight teams went through to the final. Schools could only submit one team per key stage, and therefore held their own "knock out."

The winning designs were from Springfield Technology College for KS4 (Boatfish Pendant), and Horndean Technology College for KS3 (Spinnaker). They were presented with trophies by John Mellowes, who also designed the leg trophies for the Global Challenge race.

Contact Tina on 023 9229 1456, or thennessy@portsmouthebp.co.uk.

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