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Designing Transformations: Schools of excellence

The article posed the question “Can the context of Space serve as an inclusive educational engagement model and career skills tool to achieve ‘Schools of Excellence’ (SoE) to catalyze learning and learning partnerships? (A Scottish Government term to set a standard of individualized yet professional focused education with high-level industrial partners i.e. NASA. (2008)). The underpinning research explored Space as a context to develop an inclusive learning experience and Pedagogy, working with Industry partners to address the transition from primary to secondary education.

Fairburn served as the principle Designer/Investigator, leading partnerships, workshops and conceptualising a Knowledge Exchange (KE) model. She provided the majority of content working in partnership with National Skills Agency curriculum experts. McNamara provided curriculum expertise and the operational context of the National Skills Agency.

Space is an established approach for inspiring young minds. Although this has been restricted to the study of science, this research focuses on the diversity of domains in which space studies engages, thereby reinforcing the holistic nature of Curriculum for Excellence.

The research establishes a model of KE developed through Pedagogical/Academic/ Industrial Partnerships. The event-based design methodology was applied to KE between different disciplines in Academia and with Industry Partners providing new modes of engagement between Robert Gordon University, the National Skills Agency, North American Space Agency, Industries, community partners and Schools (20 April 2010 - Designing Transformations Consultative Event) leading to inclusion in the Scottish Govt Action Plan for Science and Engineering.

With strong student and partner engagement, the project received local and national attention (http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6049392, http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1799157) and the work was disseminated across disciplines at International Conferences in Astronautics and Engineering (International Astronautics Congress (http://www.iafastro.net/iac/archive/browse/IAC-10/E1/1/7969/). The article was tested at the European Academy of Design 2011 (http://endlessend.up.pt/site/?page_id=107)culminating in an invitation to publish in Acta Astronautica.