Engineering

Please note, this course is waiting list only at Ayr Campus

The Foundation Apprenticeship (FA) in Engineering aims to give you the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge to enter a career in Engineering and the Advanced Manufacturing sector and other Engineering related industries.

The programme is designed to provide you with theory, practice, and related work experience. The FA in Engineering is aimed at you if you are in S5 and will take 2 years to complete. It also contributes directly to the achievement of the Modern Apprenticeship in Engineering by attainment of the core units of the MA qualification.

Year 1
In S5 you will attend College on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and will work towards the identified Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) level 2 units (SCQF level 5) and a proportion of the core/restricted core units from an Engineering related National Certificate (NC) at SCQF level 6.

Other activities in S5 will include introducing you to the employer context in which engineering roles exist and how engineering skills are utilised in the workplace; this will involve industrial visits to employers and talks from industry professionals.

Year 2
In S6 you will attend college on a Tuesday and Thursday afternoon you will complete any outstanding Performing Engineering Operations (PEO) units (SCQF Level 5) 5 units including 3 mandatory, and the remainder of any core / restricted core and optional units for the chosen National Certificate programme. Work-related experience will also be gained in S6 through a work placement and/or an industry challenge. The work-based competence units will be delivered and assessed in the workplace.

This course provides a basic requirement for a Modern Apprenticeship. You will learn vocational skills in Engineering. The units you will complete are:

- Using and Communicating Technical Information
- Working Efficiently and Effectively in Engineering
- Working Safely in an Engineering Environment
- Producing Components Using Hand Fitting Techniques
- Producing Mechanical Engineering Drawings Using a CAD System
- Using Computer Software Packages to Assist with Engineering Activities
- Assembling and testing electronic circuits
- Forming and assembling electrical cable enclosure and support system
- Wiring and Testing Electrical Equipment and Circuits

Students to have 2 National 5's including Mathematics and one science (preferably Physics), students must also be studying Higher Mathematics during Year 1. Only S4 students should apply.

Assessments are a mixture of practical, which focus on the attainment of new skills as and when you acquire them, and theoretical. Assessment is on an ongoing basis.

At the end of the 2 years, you will complete a combination of Performing Engineering Operations units and an NC Engineering incorporating work placement, achieving a Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering; you could progress to an HNC in Engineering or into employment or a Modern Apprenticeship.