FiE Information for Parents 2012

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS Guaranteeing Futures, in conjunction with the Tasmania Division of Engineers Australia, is offering students in Year 10 (at public schools) the opportunity to explore the engineering profession through a unique industry-linked program that includes (over an 8 month period) group activities for like-minded students and individual placements with mentors in engineering companies and organisations.

The Futures in Engineering (FiE) program will provide students with an authentic engineering experience through interacting with a range of engineering professionals, university academics and current engineering students.

Students participating in this program will be better informed to take action, make plans and get organised towards engineering career pathways. It is also hoped that students will be more inspired to continue with studying maths and science in high school and college when they see how such knowledge is used in the real world (and what kind of careers can result).

The Student (who should apply): • highly motivated Year 10 students at public schools in Tasmania • demonstrated high level maths/science ability • excellent communication and presentation skills • has a desire to learn more about the engineering profession The Program: Applicants from public schools around Tasmania will short-listed to participate in ‘engineering taster’ days on Thursday March 15 (in Hobart, Burnie, or Launceston). The days will include interaction with local engineers, engaging information on engineering as a career, and fun sessions at local educational institutions. Selection for a Taster Day will be based on the written application (spaces on the day in each region are limited). 32 students will then be selected to participate in the FiE program, based on the written application and informal interviews undertaken on the Taster Days.

The full FiE program will begin with a 3 day (2 nights) residential camp in Hobart in early May which will consist of lectures and hands-on workshops in the School of Engineering (University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay campus).

Students will also visit leading Hobart engineering companies and observe current projects in a range of engineering disciplines.

Students will then be partnered with an engineering company and mentor (generally located in Hobart, Launceston, Burnie or Devonport). The timing of placement days will be negotiated between the engineering company and the school to ensure students access the best possible learning outcomes in the workplace but should total between 5 10 days, spread over the year from June to October, at times of mutual convenience to the student and mentor.

Education Department staff will arrange first meetings between the students, mentors and parent(s) in May and June 2012. Parents will be responsible for ensuring that students are able to travel to the mentors’ workplace for the placements.

In Term 3 students will visit the Australian Maritime College to give a broader overview of the diverse paths available within engineering. This residential is planned for October (dates TBC) and ends with a celebration Futures in Engineering: Inspiring Year 10 students with authentic experiences in industry

dinner during which students present video stories of their experiences on the program (parents and mentors are invited) Students who are not selected to participate in the full FiE program will be invited to maintain their connection with the program and be informed of other opportunities and news related to engineering as an inspiration and career option.

Costs: The costs for this program are covered by Engineers Australia Tasmania Division, Guaranteeing Futures, and the partner organisations as a component of strategic efforts to promote the study of science and maths in schools and to enhance the science and engineering capabilities of Tasmanian communities and industries. Please note: successful students will be required to contribute $35 to cover organised leisure activity expenses during the UTAS and AMC components. Students and their parents/guardians will also be responsible for costs associated with travel to the mentor placements.

Applying to the program: Students are to complete an application form (endorsed by science or maths teacher and school principal).

Applications close on 2 March (hand to Pathway Planning Officer or posted to contacts below).

Key dates: Students should be prepared to commit to the program over the year through participation in the University and AMC group experiences and 5 to 10 days in a work placement with a host employer.

2 March 2012 Applications close 9 March 2012 Notification of selection for Taster Day 15 March 2012 Taster Days in Burnie, Hobart, Launceston 30 March 2012 Notification of selection to the full FiE program (and mentor allocation) 1-3 May 2012 UTAS School of Engineering group visit May/June 2012 First meetings between mentors, students and partners/guardians (and Education Department staff who will manage the placement) June 2012 Proposed start date for first mentor placements.

October AMC group visit (and presentation dinner for students, mentors and parents)

FiE Information for Parents 2012 24Jan2012

Who is behind the FiE program?

The FiE program is an initiative of the Tasmania Division of Engineers Australia, delivered in collaboration with the Department of Education’s Guaranteeing Futures unit and with significant in-kind contributions from Tasmanian engineering professionals and their employers, and the University of Tasmania and Australian Maritime College. Engineers Australia is the largest and most diverse professional body for engineers in Australia and is the national forum for the advancement of engineering and the development of engineering professionals, with almost 100,000 members embracing all disciplines of the engineering team. Staff at the Tasmania Division are responsible for recruiting and allocating the engineering professionals who serve as mentors in the program.

The FiE program is open to Year 10 students from public schools across Tasmania, but the engineering companies and organisations who provide industry-based mentoring for the students (a key element of the program) are concentrated around Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie (with some exceptions). Applicants from more remote locations will need to undertake their placements in these regions and should indicate on the application (Section A1) if accommodation arrangements can be made to support 1 week (or preferably a total of 2 weeks) placement in one of these 4 areas.

For more information contact: Southern Region Lynne Hanlon VEL Development Officer Guaranteeing Futures GPO Box 169, Hobart 7001 Telephone: 0418 251 290 Lynne.P.Hanlon@education.tas.gov.au

Northern Region Linda Goss Acting Manager, VELDO Guaranteeing Futures North c/o Launceston College PO Box 2062, Launceston 7250 Telephone: 0409334459 Linda.Goss@education.tas.gov.au

North West Region Trudy Durkin Manager Guaranteeing Futures NW PO Box 1436, Burnie 7320 Telephone: 0400 803 655 Trudy.Durkin@education.tas.gov.au

Futures in Engineering: Inspiring Year 10 students with authentic experiences in industry

Futures in Engineering: Inspiring Year 10 students with authentic experiences in industry