Preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow

Scitech CEO John Chappell writes about the importance of preparing young people for the jobs of tomorrow through STEM learning.

Setting students up for their future means engaging them in STEM learning now.

Currently, 75 per cent of jobs in the fastest growing industries require STEM skills, and 90 per cent of jobs will require people with STEM skills in the next two to five years.

Beyond learning the subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths, STEM engagement also develops skills such as curiosity, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, which are adaptable and valued in any profession. Young people who can problem solve, make critical judgements and communicate ideas will be invaluable in the workforce of tomorrow where people may have multiple jobs and possibly even multiple careers.

First step of the journey

At Scitech, we see inspiring and engaging young people with hands-on STEM experiences as the important first step on their education journey. Through interactive exhibits, programs, shows and events, we extend their connection with STEM subjects in fun and interactive ways, developing those skills with the aim to inspire them to continue their life-long learning.

STEM in resources and technology

The resources sector is one example where automation and technology are rapidly changing with ever expanding career pathways in the industry. We will continue to see an increased demand for students with STEM qualifications and skills which was evident at the recent Resources Technology Showcase in April. The event showcased innovations in technology and career opportunities, which was visited by more than 7000 students and teachers and 7500 general public across the three-day expo.

While Scitech’s booth and our activations at Rio Tinto ’s booth were an incredibly popular stop due to our fun and interactive activities, the underlying purpose was getting people and students to experience being a designer or engineer, or promote their creativity and teamwork, even for a moment, to ignite that sense of curiosity and discovery which can encourage a pursuit of further STEM learning and careers. During the event we even had visits to our booth from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Mark McGowan, demonstrating the importance placed on STEM learning and careers by the federal and state governments.

Taking STEM to the regions

Similarly, Scitech’s STEM Regional Festival, supported by Rio Tinto, is an annual career-focussed regional event which we took to Albany this month. Almost 350 students were able to meet professionals from local and Perth based science organisations such as Telethon Kids Institute , WA Data Science Innovation Hub (WADSIH) and ChemCentre , to hear first-hand about the relevance of pursuing a STEM pathway and see the amazing array of STEM careers available in Western Australia.

Connecting students with STEM

Events like these allow Scitech to make the connection between the STEM learning and engagement students experience now and the career opportunities available to them in the future. They allow us to support students at critical career decision points by giving them real world STEM examples and practical applications. In this way we can prepare young people to be part of the skilled and diverse workforce needed for the jobs of tomorrow.