KPMG STEAM Industry Connections for Roseville Seniors

College Assistant Head of Science, Ms Caitriona McCann, says students clearly benefitted from the experience, which was both fun and enriching.

“Roseville College staff and KPMG facilitators were impressed with the high level of engagement of our girls and the quality of the products produced in the final Design Thinking Challenge,” she says.

Importantly, the workshop seeks to inspire young women to seriously consider STEAM careers while also understanding the real-life workplace challenges that face women in the industry, such as bridging the gender gap in some sectors and the importance of work-life balance. Students also explored how STEAM skills can be utilised in many different ways and put their own skills to the test by tackling three mini challenges: Big Data, building “smart” cities, and successful actions for disaster relief.

“It was really interesting to hear from a panel of women who were discussing the gender gap in STEAM”, says Year 10 student, Briony Campbell, who admits that she had not previously considered a career in engineering. “The workshop has built my confidence and changed my perspective.”

Recognising that not all students may pursue a career in STEAM, Ms McCann says, “it was a valuable opportunity for our students to appreciate the importance of STEAM, and that they will likely use these skills indirectly in other careers.”

The day culminated in the Design Thinking Challenge, where groups pitched campaigns and solutions to the cohort and KPMG facilitators on global issues; such as climate change, waste management, autonomous vehicles and the aging population and changing workforce.

The inspiring workshop, held on campus and donated to the College by KPMG, is one of several industry-led experiences offered to students at Roseville College each year.