Western Bay of Plenty high schools students will have a chance to showcase their innovative flair at the first ever Young Innovator Awards (YiA) 2010.
The awards, launched in association with Priority One’s INSTEP programme, encourage Western Bay of Plenty secondary school children to understand and experience first-hand the necessary processes involved in taking a product or service to market.
Students will be required to demonstrate how they interlink research, innovation, creativity, communication and sustainability into the design of a new or existing product or service. Entrants will submit an idea to a judging panel, either individually or in a group.
Priority One’s INSTEP Manager Lyn Parlane says the awards provide support and opportunities for both the local business community and secondary school students.
“We are excited to launch YiA as it provides the Western Bay of Plenty business community with the opportunity to support young people to eventually gain the skills needed by industry.
“YiA also gives students the chance to be recognised for solving a problem and making their idea happen – as most business people can testify, this is a hugely satisfying process,” says Parlane.
The awards sit well within the new school curriculum, which encourages innovation, curiosity, creative and reflective thinking and ecological sustainability, as well as the key competencies such as problem solving, self management, the ability to relate to others and participation,” says Parlane.
Parlane says YiA aims to engage with all secondary school students that can think in a creative and innovative way, not necessarily just those who excel in the classroom.
Students can enter in either the Junior category (Year 9 and 10) or Senior category (Year 11, 12 and 13) – and will be marked against five key criteria: creativity, innovation, communication, research and sustainability; each worth 20 per cent of the final mark.
The judging panel will comprise of representatives from local businesses: Woods Creative will judge creativity, Trimax will judge innovation, Locus Research will judge communication and research and EnviroState will judge sustainability. Other key partners include Moca Web Creations, Village Public Relations, Page Macrae and Creative Tauranga
The winning student from age group will receive a cheque for $1000 and the opportunity to be mentored by a local businessperson. Certificates will also be awarded to the top entries in each criteria.
The public will be able to follow the awards on Twitter and Facebook and students can visit www.yia.co.nz for entry criteria and an example entry.
INSTEP Programme
Priority One’s INSTEP Programme aims to increase students’, teachers’, principals’ and parents’ understanding of “business” and how it relates to economic growth, the value and relevance of education and future employment opportunities within the Western Bay of Plenty region.
