Week of Engineering: Inspiring the next generation

From 13-18 August we took part in the annual Week of Engineering, organised by Engineering New Zealand. Aiming to inspire young minds to think about the future of engineering, we hosted a number of school visits, inviting students into some of our New Zealand offices, and attended three Engineering Expos to showcase the important work we do and the opportunities that a career in engineering can provide.

With strong support and involvement from our team across the country, there were multiple highlights during the week. Many of our graduates led the initiative in their offices and offered to assist over the weekend - thank  you! From Christchurch, Palmerston North and New Plymouth to Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland, students immersed themselves in a wide range of problem-solving challenges. A few site visits followed for those in Wellington and Auckland, including a trip to Wellington Airport and tours of our Envirolab Geotest laboratory in Auckland.

Students from Aorere College and St Paul’s College, who have an interest in STEM subjects, were invited to Beca House in Auckland for a meet-and-greet with some of our engineers and were kept engaged by our Civil, Structural and Project Delivery & Strategy teams.

Ms Kim Greig, a teacher in the Technology Department at St Paul’s College, said her students walked away from the experience with a new-found appreciation for engineers – with some stating that a career in engineering could be for them.

“The Beca team were extremely generous with their time, resources and information. Each and every student learnt something relevant to take away, including many who have been inspired to follow a pathway into the many parts of engineering and would consider Beca as a possible employer in their future. A thoroughly worthwhile day,” she said.

A week spent indulging the curiosity of young people was wrapped up on Saturday 18 August with Engineering Expos held in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Targeted at children and young people, the Expos offered the chance for everyone to learn more about real-world engineering projects and the latest innovations including virtual reality and drones, and participate in interactive activities.

We look forward to an even bigger and better Week of Engineering in 2019!