• Australian Computer Society Foundation scholarships presented as part of Big Day In event at Charles Sturt in Port Macquarie

High school students learned from industry experts and Charles Sturt University academics about the job opportunities a career in technology can present at a special event at the University in Port Macquarie on Thursday 8 June.

The Charles Sturt School of Computing, Mathematics and Engineering sponsored the Big Day In event on Thursday in Port Macquarie for high school students in Years 9 to 12, as well as TAFE and university students.

Course Director and Senior Lecturer in Computing Dr Jason Howarth said the event was vital to opening the eyes of up-and-coming students to a wide range of career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

“The Big Day In at Port Macquarie gives regional high school students the chance to hear about the many and varied careers available in STEM,” Dr Howarth said.

“There are so many different career opportunities; everything from working with intelligence services as a cyber security analyst, working as a computer programmer or a network engineer or a web developer.

“And of course, it’s not just the big tech companies who are looking for STEM staff – tech is everywhere, so the employment opportunities are in every sector of the economy.”

The Big Day In is presented via an ‘expo style’ with speakers from Charles Sturt and businesses including Axiom Connected, NSW Cyber, Cloud Concepts, Essential Energy and Woolworths.

As part of the day’s schedule, Dr Howarth said scholarships sponsored by the Australian Computer Society Foundation were presented to two Charles Sturt students.

“The scholarships show the ACS Foundation’s promotion of educational pathways for women in STEM,” he said.

Ms Taryn Ortinger received the ACS Foundation Women in STEM Science Scholarship worth $3,000 while Ms Airene Villamin received the Australian Computer Society Foundation Women in STEM Information Technology Prize worth $1,000.

The ACS Foundation are partners with Big Day In, having previously provided scholarships to first-year information technology students but are now looking at expanding to women in (STEM).

Dr Howarth said the technology industry is changing rapidly, and constantly evolving.

“In the last six months, we’ve seen the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications such as ChatGPT,” he said.

“AI is already starting to transform the workforce, so as a university we need to keep pace and include content on generative AI in our courses.

“Change is constant, so we are always refreshing our curriculum to keep pace with industry demands.”

In addition to positive advancements, Dr Howarth added there’s also a severe shortage of IT professionals in Australia.

“Education is the key to bridging this gap, which is why we want to get as many students as possible studying these areas,” he said.

“Of course, we also want regional areas such as Port Macquarie to participate in these developments, which is why it is important for us to promote the University to our regional students.”

ENDS