A FORMER pupil of Kilwinning Academy has returned to his old school as part of his engineering course.

Alan Cheong ran the rule over the school’s biomass boiler and newly-installed solar panels .

He is among 200 Glasgow University engineering students being deployed across North Ayrshire as part of an ambitious six-month partnership.

The fourth-year MEng students are working in 24 teams across all six localities – meaning there are 24 distinct projects – as part of the groundbreaking assignment designed by North Ayrshire Council in tandem with university tutors, to develop new technologies and ideas to reduce the carbon footprint of the area.

Each is acting as a consultancy group, working with local businesses, groups and schools and delivering useful research for the council as well as gaining hands-on experience for their future careers.

At the end of the six months, each of the groups will present their findings in a professional consultancy report with technical and financial analysis of a solution in one of four thematic areas – fuel poverty, sustainable commercial energy, promotion of circular economies and sustainable infrastructure.

Speaking during his visit to Kilwinning Academy, Mr Cheong said: “Our project is focussing on Kilwinning and the commercial, sustainable side of the town.

“Coming back to my old school has been a real help, and given me an opportunity to see how the new infrastructure at the school operates.

“The project brings a reality to our course and it’s definitely beneficial to our development.

“It gives us that practical experience and gives us a chance to draw up plans and bring them to fruition.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to help the local community as well.”

Cllr Jim Montgomerie, NAC’s Cabinet Member for Place, said: “This partnership is the first of its kind for North Ayrshire Council and something we are all incredibly excited about.

“We will be working closely with some of Scotland’s most talented engineering students and it will be really interesting to see how they get on and what they come up with.

“We are committed to the environment and continually looking at ways of being innovative and creative to get the best results.

“In establishing these links with the University, there is scope for further collaborative projects and stronger links in the future. There is benefit for the University and students through the provision of real, tangible project themes and locations.

“A huge well done to everybody involved for putting it in place. Now it’s over to the students!”