Third year pupils from up to 20 high schools across the west of Scotland are set to take part in a series of one-day entrepreneurial hackathons being delivered by University of the West of Scotland.
The events will take place across UWS campuses in Paisley, Ayr, Dumfries and Lanarkshire throughout February, giving young people the chance to work in teams to develop ideas and create prototypes based on real-world challenges such as sustainability, net zero and building a better society.
Aimed specifically at S3 pupils, the programme is designed to engage a year group that often falls outside traditional enterprise activity, at a key point when pupils begin thinking seriously about subject choices and future careers. Schools will be encouraged to put forward mixed, cross-disciplinary teams, including pupils who may not usually take part in similar opportunities.
During the hackathons, pupils will work alongside local business mentors and civic leaders before pitching their ideas at the end of the day.
Fraser Maitland, Enterprise Manager at UWS, said: “These hackathons are all about giving young people the confidence to explore new ideas and see themselves as problem-solvers and innovators. By working with local schools and community partners, we can help pupils discover skills they didn’t know they had and show them the opportunities that exist on their doorstep.
“It’s a fantastic platform for inspiring the next generation and strengthening the entrepreneurial spirit across our regions.”
The events are funded through the Scottish Government’s Entrepreneurial Education Pathways Fund, with UWS awarded more than £30,000 to deliver the sessions at no cost to schools. Transport and catering will also be covered.
Johnny Mone, Head of Business Innovation at UWS, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding from the Scottish Government. It allows us to bring a transformative, hands-on learning experience to young people at a crucial stage in their education.
“S3 pupils are full of potential, but they are also at a point where the decisions they make can shape the direction of their future. These hackathons will give them the support and inspiration to develop confidence and understand the wide range of opportunities available to them.
“Our ambition is to ensure every participant leaves feeling informed and empowered, with a better idea of the doors that are open to them, whether that leads to university or another positive destination.”
The initiative brings together UWS enterprise and professional development teams, with support from local authorities and regional business partners. The university is also inviting organisations interested in mentoring pupils, judging pitches or contributing to sector challenges to get involved.
Schools, businesses and enterprise partners interested in taking part can find more information via the UWS Ignite website, here: https://www.uwsignite.co.uk/imaginationtoinnovationhackathon.