Farry Presents Awards At Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge

Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry has presented the awards at the regional final of the UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge.

The aim of the Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge is to encourage young people to enter the world of aerospace and science. Eight local secondary schools took part in the competition which provides young people with a realistic experience in designing a flying aerospace vehicle that meets a specified set of mission and performance requirements. The competition was won by Longstone School (team 2) from Dundonald.

Congratulating the schools participating in the competition held at RLC Langford Lodge Engineering Group in Crumlin, the Minister said: "Inspiring our young people to be excited about Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects is vital for Northern Ireland's future success. This initiative fits well with a number of my Department’s key priorities – meeting the need for people with higher level skills as identified in our Skills Strategy, increasing the number of postgraduates in STEM subjects, and supporting more economically relevant activity as highlighted in the Department’s Higher Education Strategy.

"I recently announced that my Department will provide funding for 20 bursaries for new graduates and employees wishing to study Masters (MSc) level degrees in aerospace engineering. Queen’s University, Belfast (QUB), which has a track record of research excellence in aeronautical engineering, is seeking accreditation from the Royal Aeronautical Society to introduce a new Aerospace MSc from October 2013. The University of Ulster also plan to develop a unique Aerospace MSc programme capitalising on their advanced research experience and complimenting that of QUB and the new Northern Ireland Advanced Composites and Engineering centre."

(CD)