SINGAPORE — For 10 days, a state-of-the-art, 5.5-tonne Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 aero engine will be making its way to schools around Singapore, transported nightly by a secure police escort.

It’s part of an effort by Rolls-Royce to inspire youth into taking up a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects. The engine is part of a travelling exhibition to showcase Singapore’s aerospace industry, and expose youth to its opportunities.

In collaboration with Singapore Airlines, Singapore Airlines Engineering Company, Singapore Aero Engine Services and International Engine Component Overhaul, the roadshow will travel to 10 secondary schools, junior colleges and higher learning institutes across Singapore, with the intention of reaching out to at least 12,000 students.

Globally, there has been a decline in students taking up a career in STEM-related subjects, including aerospace engineering, said Mr Jonathan Asherson, Rolls-Royce regional director for ASEAN and Pacific, speaking at Ping Yi Secondary School today (April 15).

“For STEM subjects, some people have the misconception that the career path might be somewhat limited, but 80 per cent of all jobs created in the next 10 years will require STEM, so that would be a huge misconception,” he said.

The Government has said Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics & Aerospace are among five growth clusters for Singapore. The roadshow includes a Rolls-Royce wide chord fan blade, showing students a crucial component of an airplane engine up close. Rolls-Royce employees are present to provide insight into the industry.

Ping Yi Secondary student Srinath Avichal Ghoghari, 14, said: “You enjoy the leisure of the flight, but you don’t really know how the inside of it works, and what makes it fly ... through this exhibition I see that there is a large amount of job opportunities (in the aerospace industry), and it has definitely (caught) my interest.”