May 16, 2014

Budding tech gurus put on the learning-to-earning pathway at career day

The Big Day In gave local high school students the chance to explore technology-based careers. 

From mobile robotics to 3D mapping technology and finance smart phone apps - hundreds of local high school students were this week given a hands-on exploration of careers in information and communication technology (ICT) at the 2014 Big Day In, hosted by the University of Wollongong (UOW).

The Big Day In is a tech careers conference with a difference: through interactive presentations, demonstrations and competitions, tech gurus from major companies including Google, Westpac, HP, Internetrix and REA Engineering’s Formula1 racing car will show how students can kick start their ICT careers.

Students had access to industry leaders, heard from graduates who have ‘been there, done that’ and learned how to advance their own careers in the tech sector.

Among the inspiring speakers was Veronica O’Gorman, a UOW Bachelor of Information Technology graduate who is now an analyst with the reserve Bank of Australia.

Veronica told the students to study hard and take every opportunity offered throughout their degree to help them reach their goals.

UOW Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences Industry Liaison Officer Rachel Weine said the challenge for students in an ever-evolving industry was to be ready for job roles of tomorrow.

“Students increasingly require access to work experience, internships and industry mentors to secure the best graduate roles. Events like this address that challenge by directly connecting students with entrepreneurs and companies who have proven real-world experience.

“This event allows students, particularly young women, the opportunity to explore and hear about the wide range of ICT career opportunities available not only in the technology sector, but also in other industries such as finance, government, health and education, which are all huge employers of ICT graduates and professionals.”

UOW has the largest number of ICT graduates in NSW and a recent partnership with Westpac is an example of the opportunities they are being presented.

In April this year Westpac announced the establishment of their Bicentennial Foundation, a $100-million fund that will provide 100 scholarships a year in partnership with Australian Universities.

Through the Westpac Bicentennial Foundation UOW is able to offer undergraduate students the opportunity to apply for Westpac corporate scholarships and join the Young Technologists program where they will work on real-world IT challenges including mobile banking, big data, IT warehousing and agile infrastructure in their third-year year team project.

UOW School of Information Systems and Technology Senior Lecturer Khin Win said through the partnership with the Westpac Group Technology UOW students have access to real life business challenges so that they can get first-hand experience of financial services IT.

“It is a unique way for our students to apply their university learning as well as provide Westpac access to some of our brightest students. Westpac is a large employer of technologists in Australia and so it is important our students understand the business landscape they will operate in when they graduate.”

Ten locations nationwide including Wollongong hosted the event in collaboration with the Australian Computer Society Foundation (ACSF) to showcase technology careers for local students.

More: Learn about ICT degrees at UOW.