Massey links high schools with high-tech career pathways

Virtual engineering, America’s Cup boat design, green technologies and robotics are among the exciting career options a group of Auckland secondary school students are learning about through a programme jointly run by the Auckland campus and Smales Farm Technology Office Park.

Nearly 200 students from 12 schools in West Auckland, the North Shore and Whangaparaoa visited the Auckland campus recently as part of 21st Century Career Pathways in Technology 2008 – an entrepreneurial programme aimed at inspiring Year 12 and 13 students about the range of science, technology, engineering and mathematics career opportunities available through tertiary education.
The programme, which has been running for several years, links students with role models from some the country’s top technology, business and research companies for information sessions and industry placement over the next few months.

Professor Ian Maddox, programme director (Engineering and Technology) and academic director (Auckland) for the College of Sciences, is the University’s coordinator for the programme and says it offers a great chance for students keen on science subjects to gain more knowledge and ideas about exciting industry developments as they consider their futures.??