Grant brings technology to students

A $9000 Office for Youth grant has enabled 15 South Australian high schools to give students a taste of new-age technology ideas and equipment.

Instigated by the Electronics Industry Association (EIA) in conjunction with TAFE SA, high school students will build their own electronic device and have hands-on experience in the world of electronic circuitry. Senior TAFE SA Regency Park lecturers will outline career paths in electronics and how to master the basics of electronics.

To kick off the program, the TAFE SA mobile electronics classroom — a fully equipped bus including lecturers — will visit the first of 15 schools with a free two-hour session. So far, Seaton High School, Unley High School, Mitcham Girls High School, Gepps Cross High School and Parafield Gardens High School have signed up for the free sessions. There are still vacancies for other schools to take part and the cut-off date for schools to register their interest is 1 April 2008.

The program for students is important for the electronics industry in South Australia. It is on the brink of one of its largest ever growth curves which, if successful, will see it become the state’s leading export industry by 2015.

A critical factor that will ensure the success of industry growth is a steady supply of appropriately skilled staff. Currently, many electronics engineers are recruited from interstate and overseas. This is an issue that the EIA has been addressing for the past two years, culminating in the creation of the Electronics Industry Education Initiative (ei)2

“Many people don’t realise that there are more than 400 electronics companies in South Australia and that 10,000 people are employed,” said EIA executive director Greg Bassani.

“However, our electronics industry struggles for recognition because it is seen as part of other industries such as manufacturing or defence.

“Although when young people and their parents learn about the size and career opportunities available in the electronics industry they become very, very interested,” added Bassani.

“Most career paths in electronics will lead to a career packed with exciting leading-edge technology projects, international travel and great pay. It will be anything but ordinary, so who wouldn't be interested.”

Bassani went on to explain that this is the message that the EIA is broadcasting as it attempts to shed the unflattering and outdated perception of electronics professionals as soldering iron-crazed nerds.

They’re the best advocates of their profession and the reason why the EIA hand picks a batch of graduates each year to speak to high school students at its annual career evening in August.

Bassani said, “We’ve discovered that one of the most effective ways for young people to learn about an electronics career is to hear other young electronics professionals talk about their own experiences. This also helps to overcome the resistance that many year 11 and 12s have about tertiary study.

“Learning about electronics in the classroom is another way to inspire our electronics engineers of tomorrow.”