THE RACE - Victoria program of free incursions and excursions will be available to all rural and regional Victorian primary and secondary schools until the end of 2025.
CQUniversity Agriculture educators have spent two big weeks in regional Victoria, connecting school students across six schools with local primary producers, emerging technology, and careers in the vital industry.
The tour, across Gippsland and Northern Victoria, is part of the Raising Aspirations in Careers and Education (RACE) in Agriculture program, being delivered statewide across 2024-2025.
Since Tuesday March 11, the team has visited: Corner Inlet College, Loch Primary School, Bruthen Primary, Wodonga Senior Secondary College, Tawonga Primary School and Kiewa Valley Primary School.
The events provided incursions featuring hands-on challenges for students, including scientific measurement, coding for farm vehicles, and livestock GPS location in week one, excursions to dairy farms and haulage operator visits in week two.
RACE – Victoria is delivered by CQUniversity's Agri-tech Education and Extension researchers and aims to provide engaging experiences that increase students understanding, confidence, interest, and motivation for pursuing pathways in diverse agriculture careers.
The innovative initiative was previously delivered as RACE – Gippsland between 2020 to 2023 and RACE – Goulburn between 2022 to 2024, with 4000 students participating in those regions.
CQUniversity Principal Research Fellow Associate Professor Amy Cosby who leads the team, said the statewide expansion is testament to its impact.
“Results from past project delivery demonstrated a significant increase in student’s understanding of the technology utilised in agricultural production, and subsequent interest in pursuing a career in the industry,” Assoc Prof Cosby said.
“More than 80 per cent reported greater understanding of how agriculture involved science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) concepts, and the innovative nature of the industry.”
Thanks to funding from the Victorian State Government through the Raising Rural and Regional Student Aspirations Program 2024-2025, the program of free incursions and excursions will be available to all rural and regional Victorian primary and secondary schools until the end of 2025.
