Summary
Santos has partnered with the University of Adelaide to offer a national Indigenous program that promotes the benefits of a career in engineering.
Santos has partnered with the University of Adelaide to offer a national Indigenous program that promotes the benefits of a career in engineering.
As part of the program, Santos and the University of Adelaide have established the Santos Karnkanthi Indigenous Engineering School, which will provide Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students in years 11 or 12 the opportunity to join a five-day interactive engineering camp in Adelaide.
Successful applicants chosen from across Australia will undertake a diverse engineering program at the camp, involving visits to engineering businesses, sports engineering with elite sports people and coding activities with robots. A highlight of the program will be a structural engineering workshop of Adelaide Oval, including a roof climb experience.
As well as the five day camp, the joint program with Santos will see the establishment of:
- Scholarship opportunities to enter into a longer education program for students who have participated in the camp.
- An online engineering module for Indigenous students.
- Opportunities for Indigenous secondary school students to participate in “Ingenuity”, the major annual expo showcasing university student projects and the real-life applications of STEM, held in October each year.
Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher said Santos is passionate about paving the way for a brighter future for Indigenous students through educational opportunities.
“This partnership with the University of Adelaide will help to create training and employment opportunities for Indigenous students and encourage them to develop an interest and passion for engineering so they can forge a career in our important industry,” Mr Gallagher said.
Professor Shane Hearn, Dean of Indigenous Research & Education at the University of Adelaide, has welcomed the new partnership with Santos.
“The word Karnkanthi means “lifting up” in the Kaurna language, and that’s exactly what we’re aiming to do for young Indigenous people, thanks to this new initiative with Santos.
“By participating in this unique experience, young people who have the talent to succeed will gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities available to them through careers in engineering. This will not only help to boost their career aspirations, it will point them towards a clear pathway into university to pursue their choices,” Professor Hearn says.
Mr Gallagher said dozens of students from across Australia had already applied to join the five day school, with more than 50 per cent of applicants being females.
“It’s fantastic to see both young men and women developing a passion for a career in engineering,” Mr Gallagher said.
“We have a large number of impressive women working in engineering at Santos and I am delighted that this program could inspire a new generation of young women to embark on a rewarding career in the oil and gas industry.”
The Santos Karnkanthi Indigenous Engineering School will take place in Adelaide from 8–13 July. More information about the camp, and how to apply, can be found online here. Final applications close on 15 June 2018.
