New Creative Technology Hub to Open at Rangi Ruru

Christchurch’s Rangi Ruru Girls’ School is launching a new Creative Technology Hub on campus.

Principal Dr Sandra Hastie says Rangi Ruru absolutely understands the importance of putting the right emphasis on STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), particularly for girls.

“The Hub will support students to prepare for a future where most of the jobs they will be working in, don’t even exist yet,” she says. “Our students are able to take their own personal interests in technology and grow them with essential skills in areas including coding, robotics, gaming, app development, 3D printing and technology, web design and the interactive digital world.”

Earlier this month, Naomi Climer one of the UK's most senior female engineers and the first female president of Institution of Engineering and Technology*, was in New Zealand. Ms Climer told a radio interviewer, “we don’t seem to be putting the right kind of emphasis on STEM subjects; we do seem to put (especially) girls off those subjects quite early on.”

With Rangi Ruru already encouraging and supporting girls from Year 7-13 (age 11-17) in a range of STEM related subjects, the opening of the new Hub further emphasises the importance Rangi Ruru Girls’ School places on STEM subjects, especially for girls.

*The IET is one of the world's largest engineering professional bodies with over 167,000 members in 150 countries.

And if you have a chance, Naomi Clime’s interview is well worth a listen www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201799108

ENDS