New Collaboration between The University of Derby and education non-profit seeks Regional Businesses’ support

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 25 October 2018

UPDATED: 26 October 2018

Destination Imagination (DI) – an international educational non-profit dedicated to inspiring young people & developing 21st Century Lifeskills - and The University of Derby, have partnered to bring an exciting new educational experience to Derby City schools. 

They now seek to work with regional and local businesses to enable their pilot to reach some of the City’s most disadvantaged young people. 

At the heart of this exciting partnership is DI’s Challenge Experience: a fun cross-curricular STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Maths) project in which students apply the creative process to one of 7 Team Challenges, allowing young people of all ages to acquire and practise the skills needed to thrive in schools, future careers and beyond.

Uniquely, all the ideas for the solution must be the students’ own, with every element created & built by themselves.

The Challenge Experience will be facilitated in schools by The University of Derby’s teacher trainees.

Sarah Charles, Head of Primary Initial Teacher Education at the University of Derby –

“At the University of Derby, the importance of STEAM learning is at the heart of our Initial Teacher Education programmes. It is recognised that teachers of the future should nurture development of the whole child, to enable all children to succeed to the best of their ability. The importance of the five disciplines which comprise STEAM, should not be underestimated as they are used in everyday activities, promoting problem solving, and creative and analytical thinking.

"We believe that the Destination Imagination programme is a high-quality programme which can demonstrate successful outcomes in developing these key areas.”

13 schools have confirmed interest in participating in the pilot, meaning that up to 400 Derby children could benefit in the first year.

In March 2019, teams will present their Challenge solutions alongside others from around the UK at the National Tournament, which The University of Derby also hopes to host. 

Top performing teams earn an invitation to the DI Global Finals.  Held in the USA, with partners such as NASA & Ford, the event attracts 17,000 participants from across the globe in the world’s largest celebration of youth creativity, learning, teamwork & STEAM.

Katherine Gilboy, Director of Destination Imagination UK –

“We are honoured to be working with The University of Derby and excited to bring this opportunity to inspire young people to the City.  The project is ready to launch, and we look forward to working with Derby businesses who recognise the need for an innovative approach to young people’s development, as well as the benefit that can bring to their own future workforce.”

To join this exciting partnership and inspire the young people of Derby, or for any other enquiries, contact Katherine Gilboy, DIUK Director: director@diuk.org

www.destinationimagination.org

< Back