The Department of Education and James Cook University (JCU) are major providers of primary, secondary and tertiary education in Tropical and North Queensland, and are uniquely positioned to support education in this region, and across the world tropics.
Separately, these institutions can achieve a good deal—in collaboration, these organisations can achieve an unprecedented improvement in educational outcomes and workforce participation in Tropical and North Queensland.
In 2015 the Queensland Government committed resources for Thuringowa State High School to collaborate with JCU on an innovative project to expand the educational outcomes for students living in North Queensland—The Global Tropics Future Young Scholars.
This project will develop strategies that are aligned to the department's education plan,
Advancing Education: An action plan for education in Queensland with a particular focus on the future opportunities in the global tropics as articulated in the
State of the Tropics 2014 report and reflected within JCU's
Statement of Strategic Intent.
Who is a Global Tropics Future Young Scholar?
A Global Tropics Future Young Scholar is a student from Years 5 to 9 who has demonstrated an aptitude and passion for the study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
A Global Tropics Future Young Scholar is an inquirer who values problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, curiosity and collaboration as key elements of their learning.
They are seeking to deepen their learning by joining other students from North Queensland with a similar interest to investigate and explore the real world challenges and future opportunities within STEM and the dynamic Global Tropics.
As a member of this community a Global Tropics Future Young Scholar can step in and out of opportunities based on their aspiration, interest and point in time school experience. They have an opportunity to immerse themselves in enriched learning experiences which:
- extend and specialise beyond their core school curriculum
- build their capacity and skills inquiry, problem solving, critical thinking, curiosity, creativity and collaboration
- expose them to real life STEM challenges and the expertise of James Cook University researchers
- develop an understanding of and aspiration for STEM related careers and the opportunities for these worldwide but specifically in the Global Tropics.