The Priority One Instep programme in collaboration with Beca Tauranga, hosted more than 60 of our local secondary school students for an exciting first-hand look into the world of engineering and design. Starting with ice breaker activities before getting the down-to-earth info session underway, graduates from Beca gave presentations across the range of disciplines on offer, bringing to light the diverse opportunities that are available in engineering, architecture, planning, design and digital technologies.

“Engineering for me is about problem solving for the benefit of people and the environment. I’ve seen so many kids today, inspired by our presentation at the Beca Careers Day to help problem solve for the benefit of each other and our society – I’ve found it brilliant!” says Alex Bell, Beca Structural Engineer and one of the graduates presenting on his discipline at the Careers Day. Having previously attended the Beca Careers Day when he was at school, Alex is now pursuing his own successful career with Beca.

After some morning tea, and a chance for the graduates to mix and mingle with the students, along with a short presentation by the University of Waikato, it was off for a site visit to Baylink where students could see the real-world impact that working in engineering has in the community. “It was great because I learnt of a few things that I could study that I didn’t know even existed!” commented one of the students on the different roles that are involved in the Baylink project.

On their return to the Beca office, some hands-on interactive learning experiences in design, development and construction were waiting for the students. Using robots, marshmallows and pasta, the students were challenged to design and build their own miniature structures and get a taster of what it’s like to operate machinery on a smaller scale. Tensions were high as students competed for the most structurally sound build. “It was great making the structure out of marshmallows which turned out to be complicated – Being an architect is not easy” they mentioned.

Students left with a new perspective on what’s available, with one student noting the Beca Careers Day had influenced and opened doors for the students into alternate and advanced pathways that they didn’t even know existed. Ayla Wesley, another graduate who previously attended the Beca Careers Day as a student, now working as Building Services at Beca, summed the day: “It’s been a great day here at the Beca Careers Day. Getting to know some of the students and understand where they’re at and where I was at back then trying to decide what to do – It’s pretty cool to look back at how far I’ve come in my degree. What I’ve learnt, how it’s played out and where I am now – I want to bring that for other people to enjoy too.”

For more information on careers available for young graduates through Beca, contact info@beca.com

For more information on instep, or how you can support the programme, visit www.priorityone.co.nz or contact info@prioirtyone.co.nz