Big day out huge success

Hawke's Bay high school students attend a lecture at EIT about careers in engineering. Photo / Paul Taylor

The inaugural Engineering Big Day Out has been a resounding success.

Yesterday students from 15 Hawke's Bay schools visited engineers on the job, toured tertiary facilities and explored career possibilities.

EIT Hawke's Bay, Youth Futures and Careers New Zealand were behind the initiative which saw 105 budding young engineers contemplate their futures.

The collaborative effort was made to dispel the widely held myth there are no well-paid jobs in Hawke's Bay.

Education to Employment Connections Advisor at Careers New Zealand Lesley Leech said the students were thoroughly engaged throughout the day.

"The students found it really interesting and will go away a lot more informed about career possibilities."

The group was treated to seminars from some very successful Hawke's Bay engineers.

Amy Patterson-Horner, an engineer with MWH and a past pupil of Havelock North High School, told the students about the journey engineering has taken her on.

She completed a Diploma in Civil Engineering and is currently managing a $6 million project to upgrade the Havelock North wastewater pipes to enable the development of more subdivisions in the area.

She said she loves the variety her work entails.

Jan Crawford, manager of Youth Futures, said feedback from the students has been very positive and the day was a great success.

"Students didn't realise the amazing opportunities that exist to work in their hometown," Ms Crawford said.

The Engineering Big Day Out was attended by senior students who are studying maths and sciences, and possibly thinking about a career in engineering.

There were 29 local companies involved in the event employing engineers in a variety of disciplines.

During the day, students met professional engineers with qualifications in civil, geotechnical, structural, mechanical, electrical, mechatronics, electronics, computer, automation, chemical and process engineering.