Connecting more kids to agriculture than ever before
CQUniversity has staged more than 100 events for primary and secondary schools across Australia this year to showcase the vast range of career opportunities that exist in the agricultural sector.
From learning about cattle monitoring technology to coding robots for farm use, and from using technology to identify sweetness in fruit to learning about the sources of all the milk we see on our grocery store shelves, students have gained great insight into the changing world of agriculture.
The school engagement activities have been part of CQUniversity’s hugely successful Agri-Tech Education and Extension research team.
“This year we have connected with more students, teachers, parents, and industry partners than ever before,” said Associate Professor Amy Cosby, head of CQUniversity’s Agri-Tech Education and Extension team.
“More than 5700 students registered for events across the country to increase their knowledge and perception of ag and careers.”
Recently the entire Park Avenue State School student cohort participated in the Kids 2 Farm project for a day, highlighting the support the team has received from schools in Central Queensland.
Nearly 1500 students from 33 schools in Central Queensland have participated in the team’s program this year.
The Agri-Tech Education and Extension team also launched five micro-credentials for Queensland teachers in 2024, awarding an impressive 450 digital badges to educators.
CQUniversity Senior Lecturer, Dr Jaime Manning said the micro-credentials aimed to upskill agricultural teachers so they can impart the knowledge and understanding that their students will need for future careers in the sector.
Dr Manning explained that many of the teachers who participated in the program had little agricultural knowledge or qualifications.
“It is important to us that our projects also reach teachers who may not be confident with agriculture.
“These micro-credentials were a way to showcase to them the various ways they can embed agricultural concepts into their curriculum, into their classrooms, regardless of what they are teaching.”
CQUniversity has also just been announced as the provider of the Agribusiness Gateway to Industry Schools program.
“This initiative will activate school engagement and education programs, introducing young Queenslanders to the many exciting careers available in the State’s agricultural industry,” said Assoc Prof Cosby.
“It’s just another way we will be engaging with the State’s school students in the coming years.”
