Seaward, an electrical test and measurement company, has partnered with Birmingham University to establish a new digital initiative to help students understand the importance of portable appliance testing.
Experts from Peterlee-based Seaward have provided 76 students on electrical and electronics engineering courses at Birmingham University’s Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering with an overview of portable appliance testing, why it’s important to carry out tests and UK Conformity Assessed marking via new online seminars.
The eLearning initiative, which also covered the benefits of using the latest portable appliance testing testers, how to spot counterfeit products, and a live Q&A at the end of the session, comes as part of Seaward’s continued commitment to boosting core engineering skills development and learning.
After the success of the first event, an ‘electrical testing’ overview session is being planned as a follow up to help the students further understand portable appliance testing testing as the issue is likely to feature at some time in their future career roles.
“The session was extremely useful, providing a thorough understanding and insight into important electrical equipment testing processes and how they can improve workplace safety,” says electrical engineering student Tray Carty. ”This helps us to boost our own core engineering skills and development, which we can then take forward in any future job.”
With an office also in Tampa, Florida, Seaward currently employs around 170 people and is a market leading manufacturer of electronic test and measurement instruments used in a wide variety of electrical, medical, industrial and energy sector applications.
Richard Slade, UK field sales manager for Seaward Group, says he was invited by the university to present to the students.
“We had a good number attend as the initiative was scheduled into the students timetable,” he says. “Developing links with universities and other academic facilities is a key part of securing the company’s current and future workforce needs and helping people taking up electrical and electronics roles to understand better what’s involved in PAT testing.”
