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The University of Western Australia is bringing the world of business to high school students in the Pilbara region.

The Aspire UWA team together with representatives from the UWA Business School and School of Indigenous Studies, with the support of BHP Billiton, are on the road visiting schools throughout the Pilbara region this month to encourage students to carry on to university.

The UWA team will run several hands-on business-themed activities in classrooms.

Aspire UWA Senior Project Officer Elisa McGowan said activities would be designed to show high school students the diverse range of skills they could gain from studying a commerce degree at university.

"Commerce covers a whole range of areas - from accounting and economics, through to marketing and human resources - so it is fantastic to be able to share with students that they have the potential to get a university degree in business and see where that can lead," she said.

Current UWA students will share their experiences of studying at university and the experience of moving away from a regional area after completing their secondary schooling.

UWA Business School academics Assistant Professor Jacquie Hutchinson and Assistant Professor Daniel Schepis will also run activities to help students make the connection between studying business and local employment opportunities in the region.

The Aspire UWA team, including Outreach staff from the School of Indigenous Studies, aims to raise aspirations among students from communities that have been typically under-represented in higher education.  In collaboration with local schools, Aspire UWA has been able to visit the Pilbara each year since the program began in 2009.

The Aspire UWA Pilbara visit will take place in late May and early June.

Itinerary

Note: Newman Senior High School and Hedland Senior High School visits will be supported by BHP Billiton.

• 22 May - Newman Senior High School
• 23 May - Tom Price Senior High School
• 3 June - Hedland Senior High School
• 4 June - St Luke's College
• 5 June - Karratha Senior High School
• 6 June - Roebourne District High School.