Tuesday, 18 June 2024
The University of Nottingham’s Faculty of Engineering has continued its commitment to inspiring future engineers and architects across the globe by organising the second edition of the School’s Structure Building competition in Ghana.
The competition aimed to provide high school students with hands-on engineering experience with the hopes of broadening their understanding of STEM subjects while fostering teamwork, creativity, project management and problem-solving skills.
The teams competed to build the best structure
The event, delivered in collaboration with Graduate Guidance Group (G3), saw seven schools from across Ghana compete to build the strongest vertical structure using only wood sticks and glue. The participants included: Association International School, Aburi Girls’ Senior High, Ghana International School, SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International College. Dayspring International Academy, International Community School and Presbyterian Boy's Secondary School. Ahead of the competition, the participants attended a webinar to learn the theory of vertical structures, delivered by Dr John Owen, Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the university.
On the day of the competition, participants were provided with a plywood panel, 45 wood strips and glue. The teams were given three and a half hours to build the best free standing and aesthetically pleasing vertical structure, with a maximum height of 1.5m.
The vertical structures were judged on four criteria: creativity and innovation, stability, aesthetic appeal, and project management. The team of judges included the organisers, Dr Ahmed Tamkin Butt (University of Nottingham) and Ms.Emma Tarrant Tayou (Graduate Guidance Group) as well as Nottingham and SOS alumna Ms. Keziah Quarshie.
Seeing the enthusiasm, ingenuity and creativity of young Ghanaian students was extremely rewarding. Competitions such as this not only introduce students to the principles of STEM but also nurture essential interpersonal skills."
He continued: "The competition isn’t just about putting wooden sticks together; it's about shaping the next generation of STEM leaders who will drive innovation and change within their communities and beyond.”
Ms. Emma Tarrant Tayou, Director of Graduate Guidance Group who supported the event, said: “Our motto at the Graduate Guidance Group is all about connecting people and opportunities. We were excited to invest in the organization of the engineering competition as it gave students the opportunity to try something different that would make them think about their future career and study aspirations.
"We were so pleased they could connect with academics from the University of Nottingham and also with the incredible student volunteers who are all studying engineering at Ashesi University.”
First place in the competition was awarded to the SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International College, who also hosted the event while Presbyterian Boy's Secondary School and Dayspring International Academy bagged the second and third places, respectively.
Vice Principal of the SOS-Hermann Gmeiner International College, Mrs. Adzo Ashie said: “Having competed in the first edition last year, we were honoured to collaborate with the University of Nottingham this year to be the hosts of the competition, and a great surprise that a home ground advantage and the hard work and effort into preparation for the competition paid off for our team who emerged winners!
"We were equally proud to see our former student, Keziah, return as a judge following her studies at Nottingham.”
Story credits
More information is available from Faith Pring in the Press Office on faith.pring@nottingham.ac.uk
Faith Pring - Media Relations Manager
Email: faith.pring@nottingham.ac.uk
Phone: 0115 748 4411
Location: University of Nottingham, University Park
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
More news…