REA: Student interest in manufacturing careers skyrockets

Since 2006, REA has surveyed students and teachers involved in its STEM programs to determine their impact on influencing students’ career motivations and career choices. To date, over a million students across Australia have been involved in these programs, and the research forms part of a longitudinal research process examining the Motivational Drivers of Children’s Career Decision Choices started at the University of South Australia in 2006.

The survey found that not only were gender issues around STEM rapidly disappearing, but over 50% of students are interested in careers in manufacturing, and 81% of students changed their career choice to be STEM-based. In addition, the educational attainment of more than 75% of students increased across all subject areas—a direct result of their engagement in STEM programs and their involvement with Industry. The impact is felt by the schools, with 84% indicating they had lifted the importance of STEM education in their school.

“A core human motivation is the desire to be creative, and over the 15 years we have been studying student career motivation, there appears little change in this underlying driver. Students love to create,” said Dr Michael Myers OAM, Executive Chairman of REA. “Each of the REA’s STEM programs applies the principles of Action Learning in a traditional educational environment. We do this similarly to the Scouting Movement, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Outward Bound and Army Cadets, the primary difference being the overt focus on industry links to attract students in specific career directions.”

A fundamental and critical differentiator of the REA programs has been the requirement for students to work directly with industry partners in their projects. Students have the opportunity to see a direct relevance between the classroom activity they enjoy and the world of work.

“While we have little influence over their starting point, with the support of industry, we have been able to open the minds of students to how much fun manufacturing can be, and the gender imbalance is rapidly disappearing,” Myers added.

Besides the more apparent outcomes of these STEM programs, students develop many personal and employability skills, learning about working in a team, working towards a common goal, time and resources management, seeking out industry support and mentors.

“Contrary to popular belief, Australia produces the best STEM students in the world: a testament to our culture and way of life,” said Myers. “Every time we have Australian students participate in international STEM competitions, the rest of the world stops to see what they have bought to the table. We need to believe in the capacity of our students because ‘No One Said They Couldn’t’.”

Defence SA is the state sponsor of REA’s applied learning programs, and Chief Executive Richard Price says the impact of the program on shifting students’ perception and understanding of defence industry opportunities is significant.

“As the future of our defence industry workforce, learning that 69 per cent of students surveyed would consider a career in the sector is a tremendous outcome from REA’s program,” Price said. “Defence industry in South Australia is experiencing unprecedented growth, and the future pipeline of STEM-focused jobs is set to carry across several decades in areas like space, cyber security, shipbuilding, big data and information warfare. Defence industry in South Australia is here to stay, and REA’s programs are playing a crucial role in engaging the future workforce that will be at its foundation.”