TY Challenge

Engaging with TY Students through STEM Industry

learning in STEM industries

What Is the STEM TY Challenge?

The STEM TY Challenge is a teacher-led, industry-connected programme designed to immerse Transition Year students in real-world STEM experiences. By partnering students and teachers with local STEM companies and professionals, this initiative offers a unique opportunity to explore career pathways, develop practical skills, and make informed choices about the future.

Now in its fourth year, the programme has engaged nearly 500 students across the South West and continues to grow as a dynamic model of collaboration between education and industry.

GET INVOLVED

BECOME A SPONSOR

Programme Objectives

Embed STEM in Education

by sharing real-world career stories and hands-on experiences

Bridge to Real-World Applications

Connect classroom concepts with actual industry practices and challenges.

Foster Skill Development

Equip students with transferable skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and digital literacy — alongside technical STEM knowledge.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

How the Programme Works

There are many ways for your organisation to contribute:

Teacher-Led STEM Module

Teachers deliver a flexible STEM unit using a suite of curated resources including the STEM TY Challenge App and the Engineering in the World student textbook. Activities are selected from a tailored menu and adapted to each school’s interests and facilities.

The content leverages the STEM TY Challenge app and the “Engineering in the World” textbook provided to each student.

Interactive & Output-Focused Student Work

The STEM TY Challenge includes various interactive activities designed to bridge academic learning with real-world STEM applications.
Students work individually and in groups to create podcasts, design Micro Bits, and conduct LEAN analyses, among other activities, to develop both technical and soft skills.
Participants use different technologies such as Canva, Google Sheets, and an Avatar creator to build tech literacy and critical thinking simultaneously.

Mentorship & Industry Engagement

On sign up Each school is matched with an industry partner
Mentors are assigned to schools to support a small group of students, ~4:1 student-mentor ratio.
Students get to visit the company and meet their mentors.
Students conduct interviews with mentors to learn about their career journeys.
At the end of the module, students present their work to the mentors at the company.
A concluding event where mentors and students celebrate their achievements

How Businesses Can Contribute

Industry Involvement

Sponsor a School or Class

Support meaningful STEM learning by sponsoring a local school or Transition Year class. Your organisation will be matched with student teams and provide mentors to guide them through their projects and activities.

Host a Company Site Visit

Invite students into your workplace and give them a firsthand look at how STEM is applied in the real world. These visits help students visualise future careers and make STEM feel accessible and relevant.

Support Project Submissions

Mentors review student work, offer feedback, and help refine their ideas. This guidance builds students’ confidence, encourages critical thinking, and strengthens the link between school learning and professional expectations.

Attend the Final Showcase

Celebrate students’ achievements by attending their final presentations. It’s a chance to see their work, ask questions, offer encouragement, and recognise the effort they’ve put into developing real-world STEM solutions.

Champion Long-Term STEM Engagement

Your partnership doesn’t end with one programme. By becoming a long-term supporter of STEM South West initiatives, you help build a stronger, more connected STEM ecosystem in the region — one that benefits both students and industry.

Support for Teachers and Mentors

Comprehensive resources for teachers, including instructional videos and class sets of “Engineering in the World” books, ensure teachers have all the resources needed to deliver the program.
Dynamic support is provided throughout the experience, including video training, regular check-ins, and a dedicated support forum.
Mentors are expected to commit 12-20 hours throughout the program, with structured support to maximize their impact.
Mentors are matched with student groups where consideration of logistical details and diversity are taken into account.
Mentors guide students through various activities, provide feedback on submissions, and participate in site visits and the Showcase.

Final Outputs and Portfolio

At the programme’s conclusion, each student creates a digital portfolio featuring:

Project outputs
Reflections
Career interview clips

This becomes a powerful tool for future academic, career, or work placement applications.

Continuous Improvement and Feedback:

The STEM TY Challenge team offers numerous touchpoints for feedback from students, teachers, and mentors to continually refine and enhance the program, ensuring its relevance and effectiveness.

The Roadmap, in the form of a kanban board, clearly shows upcoming features and offers a space for real-time suggestions.

Management and Sponsorship:

STEM South West is the supporting partner for this initiative, ensuring its success through strategic partnerships and dedicated support.

Managed by a core team, with support from a diverse group of partner companies, these partnerships provide students with invaluable insights and mentorship in STEM fields.