New grants to build opportunity and diversity in STEM education
In order to meet future economic demands, Australia needs to produce more science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) graduates than ever before. Those with STEM qualifications are the developers of new technologies, they’re the problem solvers and they’re creating jobs that have never before existed. It’s important that everyone in Australia and New Zealand has the opportunity to engage with STEM and be a part of our digital future.
Building a diverse workforce starts with our schools and teachers and, unfortunately, not all students have the same opportunities. In the areas of science and maths, students in regional areas are 1.5 years behind their metropolitan counterparts. One reason for this is that rural schools have fewer dedicated and qualified STEM teachers, and those teachers have fewer opportunities for professional development (PD).
Google’s Educator PD Grants program is focused on providing regional teachers and those from low-socioeconomic schools with the opportunity to engage with Digital Technologies PD.
To date, over 20,000 have benefited from Google’s Educator Professional Development Grants program across Australia and New Zealand.
We’re excited to announce the 2023 grant recipients for Australia:
- Australian Catholic University
- Coding and Innovation Hub
- Design and Technology Teachers Association (DATTA) Victoria
- Digital Learning and Teaching Victoria
- Drummond Memorial Public School
- ICTE NSW
- James Cook University
- Mountain Creek State High School
- Newcastle Academy of STEM Excellence
- Pedare Christian College
- RoboCoast Sunshine Coast Robotics Association
- Science and Engineering Challenge
- SMART Program
- South Rock State School
- The University of Western Australia
- The University of Newcastle
- University of the Sunshine Coast (Hervey Bay and Fraser Coast Campus)
- UNSW
We are excited to work with these partners on their 2023 PD workshops and look forward to seeing the important impact they will have in their communities.