Business peak body calls for companies to give back to students

Peak industry association Ai Group has partnered with CSIRO to increase the number of industry professionals showcasing real-life science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills and careers in Australian schools. The association, which represents more than 60,000 businesses, has called on industry to invest in the future workforce by getting their staff into Australian classrooms.

CSIRO’s partnership with Ai Group is through the Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools (SMiS) program, which links practising scientists, mathematicians, engineers and IT professionals with students to generate interest and motivation in STEM through real-world exposure.

Of the 1972 active program partnerships across Australia, only 13% of STEM professionals come from industry and corporate businesses.

Cisco, an Ai Group member, is involved in the SMiS program as part of its organisational commitment to tackle Australia’s STEM skills shortage. Cisco Australia Vice President and SMiS mentor Sae Kwon said it was a real privilege to give back to the students that will be tomorrow’s great innovators.

“The kids are fascinated that I talk to them from other countries like Singapore over video conference,” said Kwon. “It’s great to be able to talk about the cool jobs available, the great people you get to meet, the many countries you can visit and all the fun you can have working in STEM.

“I was certainly not aware of the cool jobs that exist in STEM until I started working in the field.”

Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox explained that participation in STEM subjects is declining but industry can do more to support the Australian economy with a robust skills pipeline.

“Our relative decline of STEM skills is holding back our national economy and causing real frustration for employers,” he said.

According to the Ai Group and the Office of the Chief Scientist’s STEM Skills Partnerships program, 75% of the fastest growing occupations require STEM knowledge and skills, but the number of students coming out of university is not keeping up with this demand.

CSIRO Education Manager Mary Mulcahy said students’ interest in STEM subjects is decreasing and we need to solve this early on in schooling to ensure the future workforce pipeline can meet our future demand.

“Our evidence shows that bringing real-life, hands-on STEM into classrooms results in students being more engaged in these subjects,” said Mulcahy. “Letting students know about the diversity of careers available to them is also important — jobs from accounting, construction, nursing to hairdressing all use STEM skills.

“Industry also tells us that people with STEM backgrounds are more flexible and innovative and are able to take advantage of opportunities and changes in the workplace.”

This will be important in the future because it is predicted that up to 44% of current jobs will disappear within 20 years.

It is part of CSIRO’s Strategy 2020 to be Australia’s innovation catalyst by increasing our engagement in education and training from school age to PhD level and the workplace to help build and equip Australia’s future STEM- and innovation-capable workforce.

CSIRO and Ai Group are looking for STEM professionals to get involved in the program and inspire students. To register your interest, visit www.csiro.au/SMiS.

Image: CSIRO's Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools program brings real-world STEM into classrooms.