Innovative programs are generating excitement, writes Todd Williams.MORE than 100 students from seven Hunter high schools used their innovation, skills and imagination to design, construct and race mini formula one racing cars powered by CO2 when F1 in Schools visited the region recently.
Students have spent this year using professional 3D engineering design and analysis software, smoke tunnels, wind tunnels and multi-axis manufacturing centres to design model F1 cars that can reach speeds of 80km/h.
The Re-Engineering Australia Foundation organises the F1 in Schools event across Australia and Regional Development Australia Hunter sponsored the event under its new Manufacturing Education Program. The activity is designed to create interest in careers in advanced manufacturing.
Advanced manufacturing is key to our region’s future. There are exciting careers available in avionics, robotics, IT, electronics and aerospace.
The Hunter has many leading advanced manufacturing companies who need skilled people to help them to win future contracts in a range of areas, including key areas where we already have capabilities and facilities such as defence.
There has been a lot of discussion about manufacturing in recent months following staff cuts by BlueScope Steel. Manufacturing is not dead in Australia or the Hunter but it is changing. We need to look at niche and high-end manufacturing opportunities and we need to be ready to bring those jobs to our region.
One of the ways RDA Hunter is helping to meet this challenge is the $2.9million ME Program, which began last month.
Eight Hunter schools and eight local manufacturers are participating in the three-year program.
The aim is to spark the interest of 5000 of the region’s year 8 to year 12 students in advanced manufacturing.
The ME program was successfully piloted with 400 students across four schools last year. It produced some encouraging results.
West Wallsend High is running its first engineering class this year and for the first time has enough interested students to run both physics and chemistry classes in parallel.
Three times as many Newcastle High students accepted university placement in engineering and manufacturing courses last year than in the previous two years.
At St Paul’s High, there has been a 15per cent increase in enrolments in relevant vocational subjects.
At Callaghan College, the number of year 12 students studying metals and engineering has increased 7per cent.
All four schools reported an increase in the number of students undertaking HSC mathematics.
In an Australian first, we have Hunter companies, schools and teachers working together to open a world of new career opportunities for students by providing them interesting and real-world class-room activities, excursions and work experience.
Each school is partnered with a company and they are given flexibility to develop activities that best meet the needs of students, teachers and the company.
As well as visits to industry and the University of Newcastle, there is funding for teachers to visit industry to make the curriculum more relevant and to teach kids in a way that makes manufacturing-related subjects exciting and interesting. Those teachers come back to their schools to share the knowledge with their colleagues.
The Hunter Valley Research Foundation is helping to evaluate the most effective components of the program.
Next year, at least 12 students will embark on school-based traineeships in advanced manufacturing as part of the program. The schools involved are: Callaghan College, St Phillips Christian College, Newcastle High School, West Wallsend High School, Kotara High School, St Paul’s High School, San Clemente High School and Maitland Grossman High School.
The companies involved are: BAE Systems, Forgacs, Varley Group, Ampcontrol, Custom Fluid Power, Thales, RPC Technologies and Marciano Industries.
We need more students going into subjects like engineering, science and mathematics so they may take up new technology-based careers.
Through the ME Program we hope to change perceptions about manufacturing to see parents, grandparents, teachers and other adults working with our young people encouraging it as a career option.
Todd Williams is the chief executive officer of Regional Development Australia Hunter.
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