BALLARAT Tech School and Mars Wrigley have been working together to empower secondary students to consider a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.<\/p>\n
Year 9 and 10 students from six local high schools took part in a two-day industry innovation workshop led by professionals from the confectioner\u2019s Ballarat factory.<\/p>\n
Participants were able to connect with industry mentors, gain hands-on laboratory experience, and learn design and communication skills, all while tasked with coming up with their own unique chocolate bar, prototyping it, and developing a marketing strategy.<\/p>\n
Members of the Poptcha group developed a matcha and popcorn-flavoured chocolate bar said they enjoyed connecting with new people and sharing ideas.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re all interested in pursuing a career in STEM following the workshop.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all different ages and from different schools; Phoenix, Grammar, Ballarat High and Mount Clear, so it was really great to work with people you\u2019ve never met before to create something so cool,\u201d said participant Lizzy.<\/p>\n
Manufacturing team manager at Mars Wrigley, Ali Aamir, said the students were encouraged to think \u201cout of the box.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just about making an impact on the consumer and customer, and bringing profitability, but something that\u2019s sustainable, long-lasting, and has an impact on the wider community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe shared with them how we source some ingredients from some of the less-privileged countries, and how we are making a difference in those peoples\u2019 lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny profits are invested into those communities outside, and inside, Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very exciting and rewarding profession to come into. You could be an engineer, designer, salesperson… There\u2019s so much to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballarat Tech School associate director Damon Minotti said having an experienced industry partner in the classroom makes the learning much more real and engaging for students.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe saw lots of great innovation and unique ways of marketing the products,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there are other industries out there interested in tapping into the next generation of employees in this way, they\u2019re welcome to contact us.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BALLARAT Tech School and Mars Wrigley have been working together to empower secondary students to consider a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Year 9 and 10 students from six local high schools took part in a two-day industry innovation workshop led by professionals from the confectioner\u2019s Ballarat factory. Participants were able to connect […]<\/p>\n