New program to steer high school students into STEM careers

A new program for high school students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will be launched by the University of Adelaide today. 

A joint collaboration between the Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences (ECMS), the University of Adelaide’s STEM Academy will provide students with a clear pathway into STEM degrees, and an understanding of the jobs their studies can lead to. 

The STEM Academy is available to all South Australian high schools and students as two distinct streams. One for Years 8–11 and another for Year 12 students.

“STEM Academy participants will have access to a wide-variety of University of Adelaide resources and staff while at high school,” says STEM Academy Program Coordinator Kahlia Green.

“This includes interactive workshops and presentations, and will expand into on-campus events and networking opportunities with industry, University of Adelaide STEM students and graduates, when it is safe to go ahead,” Kahlia says.

“Students will also meet like-minded peers from across the state who share a passion for STEM,” she says.

Year 12 students participating in the Academy will receive the added benefit of an early conditional offer into a select range of University of Adelaide STEM degrees. 

“This provides prospective students with a conditional offer to study at the University of Adelaide prior to them sitting their final exams and receiving their ATAR,” says Kahlia.

So far, 36 schools from across the state have registered for the Years 8–11 stream and over 140 Year 12 students for the second stream, with room for more to get involved. 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Rathjen, says the new STEM Academy will cater to a wide range of student interests and support the skills South Australia needs in its future workforce.

“STEM skills will reshape the workforce of the future across a broad range of industries, including the obvious such as space and defence, but also agriculture, health and energy, where we also need highly trained problem solvers,” says Professor Peter Rathjen.

“Continued and widespread social-economic benefit from these industries will be dependent on broader uptake of STEM by young South Australians.

“Programs such as the University of Adelaide’s STEM Academy, which further young people’s passion for STEM and provide a direct pipeline into tertiary study, will help to deliver the future-ready workforce South Australia needs,” he said.