Running for over a decade and open to students aged 14-19 studying Design and Technology , there are four categories, two each in two age group of 14-16 and 17-19. Each age category has two prizes on offer, for individual and group projects. This national competition encourages students to submit their existing coursework projects, which would go towards either their GCSE, A-Level or BTEC qualifications. The TDI Challenge is supported by the Design and Technology Association.
The winner in each category will receive an individual prize (including iPads, GoPro cameras, Minirig speakers and drones), as well as a £1,000 voucher for their school to spend on design and technology (D&T) classroom equipment.
Says Laura Pickering, MTA education and development co-ordinator: “We’re really excited about starting to receive entries for this year’s TDI Challenge, there are a lot of talented students out there and this competition gives them a platform to showcase their hard work.
“We also want to recognise the hard work that D&T teachers put in to inspiring the next generation of young engineers and we feel the £1,000 prize for new classroom equipment will ensure these teachers are well placed to continue to be inspirational.”
The group aspect of the TDI challenge is an expansion on previous years and allows group entries of three to six students in either age category. It is particularly suitable for University Technical Colleges (UTCs) and STEM club group work projects.
All entries must be received by 12 May 2017, after which an expert judging panel, made up of industry experts, will choose the 12 individual project finalists and the eight group finalists, with all of them notified by Friday, 9 June 2017.
The final itself will be held at the European headquarters of MTA member Yamakazi Mazak at its state-of-the-art facility in Worcester on Wednesday, 5 July 2017. The chosen finalists display their portfolio of work in Mazak's atrium, and give a presentation to the judging panel, who will decide the overall prize winners.
