News

"Full STEAM ahead" (828)

Today Northern Bay College (NBC) in Geelong officially opened their STEAM Hub – a lab offering equipment, programs and mentorship to help young Australians explore opportunities in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) fields. Proudly supported by Ford Australia, the Hub is space for students aged 11 to 18 to learn and uncover new skillsets through hands-on experiences. 

“Northern Bay College is proud to be the home of this new STEAM Hub” said Fred Clarke, College Principal at NBC. “The Hub not only provides new opportunities and equipment for experiential learning, it will also help our students explore and understand future educational and career possibilities,” said Clarke.

With Ford’s support, NBC has fitted the Hub with up-to-date digital manufacturing machines including a laser cutter and a Computer Numerical Control plasma cutter. Both machines require skillsets such as designing and coding, which are taught at the Hub. Ford engineers also visit the Hub regularly, to provide mentorship and support for school programs and projects.

Staff at NBC have found that students who previously showed little interest in STEAM subjects have already demonstrated higher levels of engagement following their participation in the first STEAM program at the Hub.

“The STEAM Hub provides a physical space for learning, sharing and making, and aims to inspire the next generation of innovators, engineers and designers in the Geelong community and beyond,” said Richard Ellson, vocational education and training teacher at NBC. “The interaction with Ford engineers from the Research and Development Centre in Geelong also inspires and motivates the students to challenge themselves.” 

Ford Australia is investing in the next generation of innovators through the support of STEAM initiatives such as the Northern Bay College STEAM Hub, and the sponsorship and mentorship of student teams in the interschool science and technology-based FIRST Lego League, ICRobotics and the all-female RoboCats. 

“At Ford we are keenly aware that our world is changing,” said Louise Nance, Ford Asia Pacific STEAM Lead. “Australia’s future prosperity depends on having a skilled and motivated workforce able to innovate, compete, and win in the new economy. In this new world, the practical problem solving and collaboration skills students can gain through STEAM education can help them find successful, future-proof careers, and ensure a pipeline of talent for Aussie innovation.” 

Ford’s leading Australian R&D investment of $450 million in 2017 is driving innovation and next-generation vehicle development. This year, Ford will have a nearly 2,000 person strong team in Australia, including 1,750 engineers, designers and technicians. Australia is home to the Asia Pacific Product Development Centre, hosting state-of-the-art virtual design and engineering capability, enabling local teams to create vehicles that will be available around the world.