Glyndwr University’s Robots Help Inspire Young Children To Think About Their Future

More than 400 pupils attended a fun-packed careers day in Rhos. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Stiwt Theatre hosted a careers day with stands from local businesses and organisations and activities for primary schools as part of the Urban Villages Communities First Programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Glyndwr University’s IT department were at the event with their two robots Sheldon and Baxter on hand to entertain the students, and show them what they could be capable of building and programming when they’re older. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nigel Houlden, senior computing lecturer at Wrexham Glyndwr University, said: “The robots help bring together the stem subjects, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Sheldon and Baxter can help get the children involved early on to develop an interest in these type of subjects. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Sheldon and Baxter help the children engage with the technology, where there is plenty of work in that industry and it can be a job for life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We just need to get students hooked early on enough in the stem subjects.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pupils from Ysgol Y Grango, ID Hooson, Maes Y Mynydd, Ysgol Yr Hafod and Penycae Primary talked to different business and organisation representatives at the event to help them think about a future career. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sheldon also got to show off his Gangnam Style dance moves to the children while other pupils were able to remotely control Baxter’s movements. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Year 5 teacher Shaun Owen, from ID Hooson, said: “Events like this is great to help inspire the children and it’s a great idea to show them the robots. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We do a lot with The Stiwt Theatre and a careers day for the children, even at a young age, is really beneficial.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other organisations at the events included Wynne Construction, AVOW, Wales Air Ambulance, Techniquest Glyndwr and Coleg Cambria. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A group of Year 5 pupils from ID Hooson said: “We really liked Baxter the robot, he’s very big and costs a lot. We have learnt loads. SP Energy told us to be successful we can’t be afraid of heights ­- because they work on roofs.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The pupils were given roles as journalists for the day to interview the representatives with set questions including, what subjects they need to do to get the job or onto a course, skills they will need and even how much they could earn. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​