Apprentice Scholarship Scheme at Birmingham

Abstract

IN his annual report to the court of Governors of the University of Birmingham, the Vice-Chancellor (Dr. Raymond Priestley) comments on education for engineers. The University Joint Recruiting Board has been favourably impressed by engineering apprentices who have appeared before it for deferment or allocation in connexion with the Higher National Certificate in various branches of engineering. These men have entered industry either at or before the School Certificate stage, and have qualified, chiefly through evening work at technical colleges, to pass severe theoretical and practical tests. The successful candidates have impressed those whose duty it has been to interview them by their quality, grit and obvious sense of social responsibility. It has been quite clear that many of them are deserving of, and would be the better for, full-time university education, and that any university would benefit from their presence as students. Through conferences between the University of Birmingham, the Midland technical colleges and local firms, a scheme has been devised whereby the pick of the National Certificate holders in the Midlands might be admitted to the degree courses in mechanical and electrical engineering of the University. Candidates who have been three years in industry and who are nineteen years old or older will be able to matriculate through an examination towards which National Certificate subjects will count. A paper designed mainly to test ability for expression in English is the only additional obstacle to be surmounted. National Certificate scholarships with full maintenance, including residence at a hostel for the three years of the degree course, have been founded already by several firms.