Year 10 students engineer their futures at UQ camp
Click here for photos and videos from the engineering workshop.
Engineering is proving to have a magnetic appeal for young Queenslanders – with twenty school students from across the State attending the first engineering camp for Year 10 students at the University of Queensland during the school holidays this week.
Over the three-day camp the students will work with university and industry experts to investigate, create and complete a series of engineering projects including an emergency services vehicle design and an autonomous mining truck.
Yasiru Wijesooriya from Mansfield State High School said the camp was a great chance to get an insight into engineering in the mining industry.
“The camp has been fantastic, we’ve done lots of hands-on activities like building model autonomous mining vehicles, which was really cool,” said Yasiru.
“The engineering camp has been completely different to school, it has shown me what it would be like to study engineering at university and I’ve enjoyed meeting other students from across Queensland who are into engineering like me.”
“This camp has helped me to decide on my studies after school and I’m definitely keen to move into engineering.”
The Oresome Engineering Camp for Year 10 students is being jointly facilitated by the University of Queensland and the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).
Professor Ross McAree, Head of the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering at the University of Queensland said the camp was a fantastic opportunity for students to experience the real-world opportunities presented by engineering.
“By working alongside industry professionals and UQ academics, they’re not only building technical skills but also gaining insight into the diverse career pathways available in engineering within the resources sector,” Professor McAree said.
“We’re proud to support the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.”
Katrina-Lee Jones, QRC Policy Director for Skills, Education and Diversity said the camp had proved to be popular with Year 10 students.
“We had 118 applications for the twenty spots available for this camp, which demonstrates the ever-increasing interest in engineering for secondary students,” said Ms Jones.
“Students are excited by the range of career opportunities open to them from an engineering degree,” Ms Jones said.
“In the resources sector there is a continual demand for engineers in traditional roles like mining, mechanical and electrical as well increasing opportunities in data and automation.”
The first Oresome Engineering Camp for Year 10 students was made possible with the generous support of sponsor Mitsubishi Development.
Students attended the camp from both south-east corner and regional schools.
- Calliope State High School
- Redeemer Lutheran College, Biloela
- St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
- Spinifex State College – Mount Isa
- Good Shepherd Catholic College – Mount Isa
- Holland Park State High School
- Biloela Sate High School
- All Hallows’ Girls School
- Coorparoo Secondary College
- Wynnum State High School
- Whitsunday Anglican School
- Pioneer State High School – Townsville
- St Laurence’s College – Brisbane
- Oakey State High School
- Bundaberg State High School
- Mansfield State High School
Media opportunity
Contact Paula Lazzarini if you would like:
- Links to video interviews with two students at the camp or
- to interview a student from a school in your region.
Media Contact: Paula Lazzarini 0412 661 036 or paulal@qrc.org.au