Business

Innovative teaching methods for engineering students

Published

1 month ago

December 11, 2024

Modern education is constantly evolving, and every year new approaches emerge that change learning processes. This is especially true for students of technical specialities, where it is important not only to master theoretical knowledge but also to apply it in real life. In this article, we will look at innovative teaching methods that help technical students develop the necessary skills and achieve high academic results.

Innovations in technology have provided accessible platforms for learning, by means of online libraries and educational platforms. Other areas such as the entertainment sector have been impacted by technology as the use of online casinos has increased astronomically – some of which offer a free spin bonus.

1. Use of interactive platforms and virtual laboratories

With the development of technology, the nature of learning has changed significantly. Traditional lectures and seminars no longer meet all modern requirements, especially when it comes to technical disciplines. Virtual laboratories and interactive platforms allow students to conduct experiments, simulate different situations and gain practical skills without the need to visit physical laboratories. This approach significantly increases learning efficiency, as students can study material at their own convenience and repeat tasks without restrictions.

Advantages of interactive learning

Accessibility: The ability to learn from anywhere, which provides flexibility in the learning process.
Practical application: Students can test their knowledge and skills in real-world environments without the risk of damaging equipment or creating dangerous situations.
Individualised learning: Each student is able to work at their own pace, which allows for better adaptation to different skill levels.

2. Gamification of the learning process

Gamification is the integration of game elements into the learning process, which significantly increases student motivation. Gamification makes learning not only more interesting but also more effective. By playing educational games, students retain information better, develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Key components of gamification

Balancing complexity: Games are created in such a way that the tasks are challenging but not too difficult, which helps to develop skills.
Rewards and points: Students receive points for completing tasks, which encourages them to reach new heights.
Achievement system: Virtual medals and certificates help students to feel achievement and progress in their studies.

3. Project-based learning approaches

Project-based learning is another innovative method that enables students to develop critical thinking and teamwork skills. This method involves the creation of real-life projects that address current issues and challenges in the field of engineering and technology. Students work in groups to develop technical solutions, analyse data and present their research findings. This approach develops the ability to work in a team, teaches them to listen and take into account the opinions of others, and to take responsibility for the final result.

Benefits of project-based learning

Development of practical skills: Students gain real-world experience in creating products or solutions.
Stimulating creativity: The approach allows you to experiment and look for new ways to solve problems.
Engagement with real-world problems: Students have the opportunity to work with actual issues, which helps prepare them for professional activities.

4. Implementation of artificial intelligence in education

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an important part of education, helping to personalise the learning process and make it more effective. Thanks to machine learning algorithms, AI can adapt materials according to the level of students’ training, automatically evaluate tasks and provide recommendations for further learning. This approach facilitates faster learning and reduces the workload of teachers.

How AI helps students

Individual approach: AI-powered platforms can tailor learning material to the needs of each student.
Automatic grading: Assessment of tasks becomes fast and accurate.
Virtual assistants: AI can answer students’ questions, provide additional explanations, and help them solve tasks.

5. Creating online course programmes

One of the most effective ways to learn in today’s environment is through online courses, which offer a wide range of topics and the ability to study complex technical subjects at a time convenient for students. These courses often include video lectures, interactive assignments, tests, and the opportunity to discuss the material with other participants. This format promotes independent learning and development of the discipline.

Advantages of online learning

Accessibility: Online courses are available to students anywhere, making them convenient for learning.
Flexibility: The ability to plan your own study time.
Variety of materials: Videos, graphs, tests and other resources for effective learning.

6. Use of augmented reality (AR) technology

Augmented reality opens up new opportunities in teaching technical disciplines. AR allows students to see and interact with three-dimensional models, making it easier to understand complex concepts and processes. By bringing information into the real world, AR makes learning fun and interactive.

How AR is changing the learning process

Deeper understanding of the material: Students can see and model objects and processes in three dimensions.
Interactive learning: The technology allows you to participate in virtual experiments and research.
Student engagement: Visualisation of material helps to keep students’ attention and interest.

7. Synergy of theory and practice

One of the key aspects of successful learning is the balance between theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Innovative methods involve the use of simulators, virtual trainers and modelling software, which allows students to integrate their knowledge into practical tasks. This not only improves their understanding of the material, but also prepares them for real-world challenges in their future careers.

The importance of practical training

Skills development: Hands-on training prepares students for real-world work.
Problem solving: Students learn how to solve problems that may arise in their professional lives.
Application of theory: Theoretical knowledge is applied in practice, which contributes to a deeper understanding of the subject.

Conclusion.

Innovative teaching methods for students of technical specialities open up new horizons in the field of education, providing a high level of interactivity, flexibility and efficiency of the learning process. The use of technologies such as interactive platforms, artificial intelligence, gamification, augmented reality and online courses creates conditions for in-depth learning and development of practical skills. These approaches give students the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in real-life situations, which prepares them for real challenges in their professional lives.

It is important that educational institutions actively implement these innovations and adapt their curricula to modern requirements. This approach not only increases students’ motivation but also helps them develop the competencies necessary for a successful career in high-tech industries. The integration of the latest teaching methods is becoming the key to creating a more dynamic, adaptive and effective educational environment that meets the requirements of the modern world.

Business

Wales Tourism Alliance challenges Visitor Levy Bill

Published

17 hours ago

January 11, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE WALES TOURISM ALLIANCE has submitted its formal response to the Welsh Government’s Visitor Levy Bill. The response, delivered to the Finance and the Legislation, Justice, and Constitution Committees, outlines several key concerns about the proposed legislation.

Key issues raised by the WTA

The Welsh Government’s own Explanatory Memorandum and Economic Impact Assessment suggest the policy’s administrative costs will outweigh the revenue generated.
The Bill extends beyond tourism visits, encompassing stays of less than 31 days for purposes such as work or education.
Local authorities will retain sole control over any net revenue, with no obligation to allocate funds to tourism-related initiatives.
The data underpinning the policy and its assumptions are unreliable and raise significant concerns.
Industry input, including that from Wales’s own tourism forum chairs, has been inadequately considered.
The policy fails to account for the pressures already impacting Welsh tourism over the past five years.

Industry reaction

WTA Chair Rowland Rees-Evans voiced disappointment over the proposal, which the Welsh Government’s own Economic Impact Assessment predicts could lead to net job losses.

“The WTA has engaged with the Welsh Government since the Visitor Levy was proposed, and we are disappointed they are pursuing a policy their own analysis suggests will have a negative impact on employment,” Rees-Evans stated.

“The tourism industry in Wales is still recovering from the devastating effects of Covid-19, grappling with the 182-day rule on holiday lets, and facing ongoing challenges from the cost-of-living crisis. Additionally, businesses are contending with a 40% rise in the living wage since 2020 and increased national insurance contributions starting this April.

“To impose another burden on a fragile sector, which employs over 20% of the workforce in some parts of Wales, is not in the best interest of the country.”

Rees-Evans emphasized the broader implications of the levy, stating:
“We must also dispel the notion that this is solely a Tourist Tax. It is a Visitor Levy that will affect everyone in Wales – from children on overnight school trips to patients requiring overnight stays before early NHS admissions.”

Pictured: Rowland Rees-Evans, Chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance

Business

Impact of budget announcements felt by Welsh business in Q4

Published

2 days ago

January 10, 2025

Tom Sinclair

EMPLOYMENT measures announced in the Autumn Budget may have affected attitudes to recruitment by businesses in Wales in Q4 of 2024, according to Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey.

17% of businesses in Wales increased the size of their workforce over the last three months and 17% also expected their workforce to increase in the next quarter. While over half of the businesses surveyed (59%) expect the size of their workforce to remain constant in the next three months, there was a rise in the number of respondents who foresee that their workforce will decrease, from 15% in Q3 to 24% in Q4.

Fewer businesses in Wales attempted to recruit during the final quarter of the year than in Q3. Of those who did recruit in Q4, 65% experienced difficulties especially when recruiting for professional, managerial, skilled manual and technical roles.

The latest edition of the Quarterly Economic Survey also included questions specific to measures announced in the Budget such as the proposed increase to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage from April and whether the changes would impact businesses’ staffing plans, particularly in relation to hiring young people such as graduates, school and college leavers.

Around half of the respondents revealed that the increases to £10 and £12.21 an hour for the minimum wage and living wage respectively would not affect their business. Other businesses in Wales suggested that they would have to either halt recruitment plans, approach recruitment with caution or increase the prices of their services.

Businesses also expressed their hesitation to hire young people, with many reducing the numbers they plan to recruit in 2025.

Gus Williams, interim CEO at Chambers Wales South East, South West and Mid, said: “Taxation has become the external factor causing the most concern for businesses in Wales and the measures announced in the Budget such as the increase to employers’ national insurance contributions, combined with rising labour costs and changes to employee rights, have not surprisingly driven those concerns.

“Our Quarterly Economic Surveys show that recruitment remains a persistent challenge for businesses in Wales, and this continued in Q4 with a rise in the number of firms expecting their workforce to decrease and fewer investing in training. One of the impacts of the tax and National Minimum Wage increases looks to be a reduction in expected entry level recruitment this year.

“As businesses review their budget planning in preparation for upcoming changes, more support is needed to tackle barriers to growth such as access to skills development and learning pathways to help companies attract and retain talent with the right skills for their sectors.”

Business

Slower contractions in Welsh business activity and orders in December

Published

2 days ago

January 10, 2025

Tom Sinclair

WEAKER declines in output and new orders Firms remain optimistic for 2025 Employment falls at fastest rate since September 2020

The latest Cymru Growth Tracker from NatWest highlights a slower pace of decline in business activity and new orders for Welsh companies in December 2024.

The Wales Business Activity Index, which measures month-on-month changes in output across the manufacturing and service sectors, rose to 48.9 in December from 47.7 in November. While still below the 50.0 threshold that indicates growth, the latest reading signaled the slowest contraction in the current four-month downturn.

The softer decline in output was underpinned by only a slight fall in new orders. Welsh firms expressed optimism for increased activity in the year ahead, although concerns over economic uncertainty, rising costs, and selling prices tempered expectations.

Employment and Cost Pressures

Despite improved business activity, subdued demand, spare capacity, and heightened cost pressures led to the sharpest drop in employment since September 2020. Redundancies were driven by cost-cutting initiatives and lower sales, with voluntary leavers not being replaced.

Although firms managed to increase selling prices at the fastest rate since May 2024, business confidence slipped to a 13-month low.

Jessica Shipman, Chair of the NatWest Cymru Regional Board, commented:

“Welsh businesses saw a slightly brighter end to 2024 as contractions in output and new orders eased. Success in engaging new customers helped slow the decline in new business, and firms are cautiously optimistic about 2025. However, the pace of job cuts accelerated, and rising costs—particularly wages—pose ongoing challenges to margins.”

Comparing Wales to the UK

The performance of Welsh businesses contrasted with modest growth across the UK. While Wales recorded slower declines, the pace of contraction in business activity remained more pronounced than the UK average.

New orders also fell for a second consecutive month in December, though the decline was among the weakest of the ten UK regions experiencing downturns. Optimism among Welsh firms about future output fell to its lowest level since November 2023, lagging behind both the UK average and historical trends.

Inflation and Pricing Trends

Input costs at Welsh firms rose at their fastest pace since April 2024, driven by higher supplier prices, rents, and wage bills. The rate of cost inflation was slightly below the UK average, but the pressure remained historically high.

In response, businesses raised selling prices at the quickest rate since May 2024. Despite this, Wales saw one of the slower increases in charges among the 12 UK regions, with only Yorkshire & Humber, Northern Ireland, and the West Midlands recording weaker upticks.

Employment and Backlogs

Welsh private sector firms reported the steepest job cuts of all UK regions, with staffing levels falling at the fastest rate since September 2020. Similarly, incomplete work declined at the quickest pace among the monitored UK areas, reflecting subdued demand and increased spare capacity.