News Archive

More than 400 high school students in the Pilbara have had a taste of university life as staff from The University of Western Australia visited the North-West.

Students were given the chance to code robots, explore a virtual university campus and match their skills to potential careers in hands-on activities that unlock their creativity and problem-solving skills.

The initiative, through the Aspire UWA program, aims to raise tertiary aspirations of school students from remote regions.

UWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater said Aspire UWA and BHP were working together with secondary schools in the Pilbara to inspire and inform students, who may not have been considering further studies at university, about the benefits and opportunities that come with a tertiary education.

“UWA and BHP are committed to ensuring that all Western Australian students, regardless of their physical location within the state, are given equal opportunities to succeed at university,” Professor Freshwater said.

“The Aspire UWA program provides students with an opportunity to see the variety and choices available when searching for a career they are passionate about, and the support offered to help them succeed, both in high school and at university.”

Professor Freshwater also met school principals in the region to discuss how to best prepare students for university life and the workforce of the future.

Aspire UWA and UWA’s School of Indigenous Studies work in partnership with BHP. Throughout the week, students also heard from BHP volunteers about their university experience and the BHP scholarships available to Pilbara students who attend UWA.

Media references

Elisa McGowan (Aspire UWA) (+61 8) 6488 3646 / (+61 4) 31 925 198
Jess Reid (UWA Media and PR Advisor) (+61 8) 6488 6876