“We are excited that the launch of our online ‘DEC School’ will enable students (and schools) to access DEC whenever they want and from wherever they are,” she said. “The workforce situation facing the architecture, engineering, surveying and construction industries is not exclusive to the U.K. or the U.S.; it is a global problem and we’ve proven that the solution to it lies in today’s youth.”
Topcon has supported COYO's efforts for more than a decade and contributing to DEC School demonstrates that ongoing commitment. There is no downside, according to Jamie Williamson, executive vice president with Topcon.
“We recognized early on not just the importance of the workforce issue facing our industry, but also the success Alison and her team were having making the concepts of design and survey accessible and interesting to students in the U.K.,” he said. “The fact that her dream has grown over the years to where it is today: capable of reaching a young, eager-to-learn, global audience — and the fact that we’ve been able to help bring it along — makes us feel very good about what we do.”
Watson is similarly upbeat about the strides COYO has taken and grateful for the support shown by Topcon since the organization’s inception.
“For years now, an important part of our ‘curriculum’ has involved students meeting design challenges utilizing the strengths gained through aligning their own STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) resources,” she said. “Topcon has been a major sponsor for every one of those challenges. I can't say enough about the level of support they've shown us and continue to show us with this major effort. Taking the DEC School to a global audience has already garnered interest from South Africa, China and Australia, as well as The Emirates in the Middle East — and we've literally just begun.”
Discover more about DEC – visit: designengineerconstruct.com.
About Class Of Your Own Limited
Established in 2009 by former land surveyor Alison Watson MBE, Class Of Your Own (“COYO”) is a social business, education consultancy and the award-winning creator of the Design Engineer Construct! (“DEC”) Learning Programme. Working with the best in Education and Industry, COYO takes an authentic learning approach in the creation of world-leading STEM-focused Built Environment and Infrastructure programmes to realise potential and deliver genuine social, economic and environmental impact. COYO’s ‘Design Engineer Construct!’ (“DEC”) Learning Programme is aimed at children and young people in Primary (age 7-11 years), Secondary (age 11-16 years), Sixth Form and Further Education (16-19 years) and also Adult Learning; an entire programme of study that provides learners with unique pathways into professional careers in Architecture, Engineering and Construction.
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Photo courtesy of Class of Your Own.
