GESS launches first Junior Engineer Academy Outside Europe
If your child dreams of joining the ranks of young innovators and future engineers, the opportunity is ripe in GESS. This international school has become the first ever school outside of Europe selected to offer the esteemed Junior Engineer Academy programme, which, up until now, has only been offered by schools in Europe.
The Junior Engineer Academy network was incepted by the Deutsche Telekom Stiftung (German Telecom Foundation) in 2005 to promote early interest in technical and engineering sectors among young students between the ages of 13 and 14 (typically in Grade 8 and 9).
The Making of Tomorrow’s Engineers
Great engineers, scientists and technical experts are not made overnight. Realising that, GESS wants to use this programme to set young children with an interest in engineering down the right path towards discovering a successful career in the field!
The entire initiative will expose students to real life engineering challenges while also equipping them with skills in the areas of industrial design, materials science, coding, sensors, robotics and more to take on these challenges confidently.
The programme will run as an after-school elective for academically driven Grade 8 and 9 students. The entire duration of the programme is 2 years and students who complete it will be awarded a certificate endorsed by GESS, the Junior Engineer Academy network and Deutsche Telekom Stiftung.
Bringing Engineering Knowledge Alive
One of the key highlights of the programme is that it goes beyond the classroom and school setting. Students will work with university academics, scientific bodies and industry experts like NUS Pomeroy Studio, XentiQ, Bosch, Pepperl&Fuchs who are partnering with GESS in delivering this programme.
Partners will offer:
– Opportunities for visits to the company and research centres,
– Lectures, seminars and training from industrial experts,
– Supervision and consultation for subprojects,
– Access to engineering equipment for students to get a real sense of what it is like to use such resources in a professional environment,
– Internship opportunities (wherever possible).
The core focus of the programme at GESS will be on sustainable urban living spaces, which is in keeping with Singapore’s dense urban environment. Students will not just acquire knowledge and skills but they will get a concrete opportunity to put it into action as they build GESS’s very own green wall. This converts the Academy into an experience that is connected to our students’ personal experiences.
Other Exciting Perks
This programme enables students to start building networks in the engineering industry and this opens up unique internships and vocational training opportunities for them. In future, there might also be opportunities for students to travel overseas to expand their understanding of engineering.
About GESS
GESS is an international school in Singapore with students of over 65 nationalities. The school has strong European foundations and believes in developing confident, forward-looking students through a celebration of respect, openness and inclusiveness. GESS is recognised for its languages and offers a choice between two main curricula: the German Curriculum or the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme in English. Many other languages are offered as part of the unique ‘mother tongue’ and language enrichment programmes. The school caters to students of all ages, starting from 18 months to graduation at 18 years. In August 2018, GESS moved to a new purpose-built campus with brand new facilities on Dairy Farm Lane.
