Engineering Level 3 students at Oaklands College recently completed a week-long Work Experience (WEX) project in partnership with D5 Design, specialists in science and technical communications for engineering products. D5 Design, recognised as the 2025 Employer Winner for Innovation and Creativity at the Oaklands Employer Awards, provided students with a real-world industry challenge, offering valuable experience in teamwork, problem-solving, and professional communication.

Over the week, seven student groups tackled the brief, developing designs and presenting their solutions to a client-style audience. Each presentation highlighted the students’ problem-solving approach, design development, and key product features, demonstrating their ability to communicate ideas clearly and professionally.

All students showed excellent commitment and collaboration, consistently producing high-quality designs and presentations. At the project’s conclusion, D5 Design awarded prizes to the top three performing teams, recognising strong engineering design alongside effective communication skills, while two students were singled out for exceptional individual performance.

Award Winners:

• 1st Place – Gold (L3 Foundation): Harry J, Bohdan B, Nabhan J, Areeb K– also produced a prototype to support their design.

• 2nd Place – Silver (L3 Extended): Jasmin T, Demugaj C, Doku B, Samuel S – well-developed design with a confident and clear presentation.

• 3rd Place – Bronze (L3 Foundation): Tegan J, Maisie F, Fabio C, Samuel C – strong response demonstrating creativity and technical understanding.

Exceptional Individual Performance: Jasmin T and Joshua B for outstanding effort and achievement.

The project provided students with industry-relevant skills, preparing them for future engineering challenges and highlighting Oaklands College’s commitment to fostering talented, industry-ready graduates.