John Hall, Professional Development Officer at CIHT, explains how the Institute can help the next generation in highways and transportation fulfil their potential.
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Words by John Challen
Regardless of the level of experience, knowledge or training, everyone can still benefit from a bit of guidance.
Part of this help within CIHT comes from the army of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Ambassadors who volunteer their time to deliver STEM-related activities to a wide range of young people.
“CIHT’s STEM Ambassadors are essential to demonstrating all the career options within the highways and transportation sector, and supporting younger people to fulfil their potential,” enthuses John Hall, the person responsible for coordinating STEM Ambassadors.
“Social value is a new metric collected by our partners, STEM Learning. They use their outreach to collect data and analyse how young people are impacted positively by STEM Ambassadors through factors such as increased job attainment, progression and aspirations and even increased earnings potential.”
Hall says that over the past 12 months, the STEM ambassador members have completed over 300 activities reaching 70,000 children and creating over £5m worth of social value.
“All our STEM Ambassadors bring something different to the table in terms of their skillset and experience,” he adds. “So, from that perspective, every single STEM Ambassador is the best ambassador for CIHT.
“More generally speaking, the best STEM Ambassadors want to be inspiring role models and deliver activities so enthusiastically that they bring subjects to life for the students. The best ambassadors make someone else say, ‘I want to do what you do one day!’”
STEM Learning has highlighted a lack of relatable role models, teacher retention and digital poverty as areas to work on with the younger generation, something that Hall is keen to address.
“For a lot of young people, a major stepping stone is the leap from education into long-term employment and we need an approach that supports and prepares young people to enter the world of work.
“Students also need better careers advice from a young age, so they can better understand their career options and the routes they need to take to get there. This is where STEM Ambassadors can also play a key role, by helping students to understand the breadth of career opportunities available and delivering activities around soft skills.”
Beyond CIHT’s STEM Ambassadors, Hall says everyone in industry has a part to play in helping young people fulfil their potential.
“It could be by inspiring members to join as STEM Ambassadors or becoming a CIHT Mentor and focusing your time to supporting just one person.
“Everyone within or connected to CIHT can help us to diversify our pool of volunteers so we have enough role models for young learners of all backgrounds.
“One way people can help is in Spring 2024, when CIHT will be working with The Fest Hub, Ramboll and professional football clubs on an innovative programme that uses links to football to raise awareness of STEM careers.
CIHT is actively looking for members who are based in, or are able to travel to, London to be STEM ambassadors supporting The Fest Hub programme,” concludes Hall.
On Wednesday 17 January 2024, from 2pm to 3pm, CIHT will be delivering a webinar about the benefits of being a STEM Ambassador. Book your place now.
For more information on The Fest Hub programme, please contact professionaldevelopment@ciht.org.uk.
John Hall, Professional Development Officer at CIHT
Join other savvy professionals just like you at CIHT. We are committed to fulfilling your professional development needs throughout your career
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