TechWomen are partnering with ITP to engage more women in their mentoring programmes in New Zealand schools. We need more mentors across the country for the Tahi Rua Toru Tech Challenge, based on a large uptake in schools. One of ITP and TechWomen’s shared values is growing and engaging the next generation of industry professionals by utilising opportunities to get younger generations excited about our industry. We want to ensure girls feel included in this event, seeing women as being a core and normal part of this industry.
What is Tahi Rua Toru Tech – 123Tech?
IT Professionals New Zealand/TechHub in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Digital Technologies Teachers Aotearoa (DTTA, formerly NZACDITT) and others launched the Tahi Rua Toru Tech Challenge in 2018.
123Tech engages school students of all ages and is a free programme to help support the introduction of the new Digital Technologies Curriculum content.
Those who complete the challenge can then go onto the Regional then National finals, competing with other schools around New Zealand. The creativity and innovation displayed at these regional events by student teams is absolutely astounding and showcases why a challenge like Tahi Rua Toru Tech is crucial to getting the future generation excited about Digital Technologies.
The challenge gives students a brief to identify a problem in their school and community and solve it using digital technologies – which results in Apps, digital games, inventions or whatever their innovative and imaginative minds can think of. These kids could be the next generation to move into our industry, and we want to help light the fire, that spark, that gets them excited about digital technologies.
A mentor’s role is to help guide and offer advice on the team’s project as they navigate the challenge, giving up to an hour of their time a week that can be done by visiting the school, calling in via video, or even simple written correspondence. A mentor offers experience and advice where teachers can’t, we are looking for people with infectious passion for the industry to get these kids excited about a future in digital technologies.
Check out the highlights video from the 2018 finals
