Community of Practice for Outreach and WP Practitioners > Adopter Universities - Strengthening Community Links > Community Links - Bradford

Adopter Universities - Strengthening Community Links > Community Links - Bradford

Through adoption of the Community of Practice for Outreach and WP Practitioners project, the University of Bradford took the training and support materials provided to explore ways in which it could enhance its interaction with local community partners to achieve more effective STEM outreach.

The project was of particular interest to Bradford as the STEM at Bradford Programme is currently building a dedicated schools lab on campus. This state-of-the-art facility will offer schools, colleges and community partners an environment where excellence in STEM subjects will be the focus, and increasing attainment and progression in STEM the explicit aim.

The Faraday Challenge

Between January and July 2012, Bradford undertook four peer reviews of STEM outreach activities both internal and external to the University, as a means to investigate peer practice. The activities peer reviewed were:

'STEM in the Stars' at Shirley Manor Primary School
The Faraday Challenge at the University of Hertfordshire
NG Bailey Robot Challenge at the University of Bradford
STEM Careers Event at St Aidan's CE High School

In addition to these peer reviews, Bradford used the project to forge new partnerships with colleagues at the University of Hertfordshire and the Royal Institute of Engineering through the Faraday Challenge.

At the bottom of this page, you can access a case study booklet and report which contain evaluations and learning from the above activities.

Project Achievements

Alongside affording the opportunity to undertake four peer reviews and to forge new partnerships, the project has enabled key outreach staff at Bradford to widen their own practice and networks. This has proved invaluable as currently STEM outreach is managed across the University on an individual basis – peer reviewing activity at partner institutions has been a mechanism for opening up dialogue across the university between STEM practitioners.

As a result of the Faraday Challenge observation, the University is now considering how such an event might benefit Bradford communities. Partnering with St Aidan’s High School on the STEM Careers evening has also opened up new avenues for the University in that it is now working to create a model of STEM Careers events which could be trialled at inner city schools. Supporting primary schools to think about going for the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) will benefit the district enormously as, aside from Shirley Manor, no other Bradford schools are yet involved. This is something the new STEM Centre could address and the University is now actively pursuing this as an option of support in its outreach programme.

NG Bailey Robot Challenge

The work captured in the below case study booklet will be launched at the Bradford Science Festival in October 2012. This will enable time for the booklet to be further developed as a tool to support engagement between the university and schools in the context of Bradford's new STEM Centre.

The below powerpoint presentation outlines the progress and learning from Bradford's project:

Bradford - Project Presentation

Case Study Booklet & Report

Please find below a case study booklet of Bradford's peer review activities following which, is a report detailing their learning and engagement in the adopter project. Should you like to know more, feel free to contact Mutty Dad at m.dad1@bradford.ac.uk.

Bradford - Case Study Booklet

Bradford - Project Report