Engineering leadership is not just about applying technical knowledge and experience; for some, it's also about learning about themselves.
On Tuesday 1st March 2016, Oliver Robinson, an EngD researcher at the University of Southampton attended an audience with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at St James’ Palace to receive his Gold Duke of Edinburgh's certificate.
Hosted in the state apartments, where centuries of significant royal events have occurred, Oliver spoke with His Royal Highness about the voluntary role he undertook as the President of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Society at the University.
Recognised by employers and institutions across the UK, the award sees young people below the age of 25 pursue a number of ‘sections’, individually tailored to provide a unique programme of self-development. Any young person below the age of 25 is eligible to enrol on the award, which progresses in stages from Bronze and Silver to Gold. Since it is the highest award offered by the DofE scheme, achievement of the Gold award is recognised by the Duke himself at the Palace.
All five sections must be satisfied in order to achieve the award, with the service, physical and skill sections taking around a year to complete.
Besides holding a voluntary role in a society at the university, Oliver learned to drive in order to satisfy the skill element and developed his rock-climbing ability in the physical section. He then spent a week of his residential activity in Dorset assisting with delivering a Scout summer camp for 14-18 year olds, before undertaking two four-day expeditions on concurrent summers: the practice in Dartmoor and the assessment in the Brecon Beacons.
On Tuesday 1st March 2016, Oliver Robinson, an EngD researcher at the University of Southampton attended an audience with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at St James’ Palace to receive his Gold Duke of Edinburgh's certificate.Hosted in the state apartments, where centuries of significant royal events have occurred, Oliver spoke with His Royal Highness about the voluntary role he undertook as the President of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Society at the University.
Recognised by employers and institutions across the UK, the award sees young people below the age of 25 pursue a number of ‘sections’, individually tailored to provide a unique programme of self-development. Any young person below the age of 25 is eligible to enrol on the award, which progresses in stages from Bronze and Silver to Gold. Since it is the highest award offered by the DofE scheme, achievement of the Gold award is recognised by the Duke himself at the Palace.
All five sections must be satisfied in order to achieve the award, with the service, physical and skill sections taking around a year to complete.
Besides holding a voluntary role in a society at the university, Oliver learned to drive in order to satisfy the skill element and developed his rock-climbing ability in the physical section. He then spent a week of his residential activity in Dorset assisting with delivering a Scout summer camp for 14-18 year olds, before undertaking two four-day expeditions on concurrent summers: the practice in Dartmoor and the assessment in the Brecon Beacons.
