Cecil Andrews is the first school in Australia to introduce the dedicated built environment course, developed by UK-based COYO. Position Partners will work closely with teachers at the college to deliver meaningful learning opportunities with the latest in geospatial technology.
Class Of Your Own (“COYO”) is an organisation focused on showcasing career pathways for young people in the built environment. Its dedicated and award-winning Design Engineer Construct! (DEC) programme assists teachers to introduce an array of skill sets needed in construction and infrastructure projects, including engineering, surveying, architecture and design.
“Standard high school curriculums do not include learning opportunities about modern, digital construction and infrastructure,” said Alison Watson, Founder and CEO of COYO. “Class Of Your Own was established to give young people meaningful insights into what a future in the built environment might look like, to light a spark about the wonderful career prospects that could open up to them in this industry,” she added.
The DEC programme is based on a project-based learning methodology, that is supported by one or many ‘adopters’ from the industry. The adopter(s) support teaching staff with real-world expertise and resources, typically across four to five workshops or engagements throughout the school year.
Intelligent positioning solutions provider Position Partners will be supporting Cecil Andrews as an adopter of the school. The company will provide practical learning opportunities for data capture, as-built verification and digital modelling through the use of surveying equipment, mass data capture systems including survey drones and 3D laser scanners, CAD and modelling software.
“The Position Partners team includes a diverse range of skill sets and professions, from engineers, surveyors and trade qualified employees,” said Garry MacPhail, Geospatial Business Manager at Position Partners.
“Our industry knowledge combined with the wide array of solutions we offer make us well-suited to support the DEC programme and we are honoured to come on board as the first adopter in Australia,” he added.
Located Southeast of Perth near Armadale, Western Australia, Cecil Andrews College exemplifies excellence in education for all students. A finalist in the Governor’s School STEM Awards for 2020 and winner of the School Principal of the Year Government Excellence Award 2020, the college provides a diverse curriculum to best prepare students for a successful and fulfilling future.
“Cecil Andrews has a strong STEM programme that has always valued the input and support from industry to help our students prepare for the world of work and provide insights into potential career opportunities,” said Stella Jinman, Principal at Cecil Andrews.
“We are delighted to offer this new programme to our students with the help of Position Partners and the COYO team,” she added.
Global positioning systems manufacturer, Topcon Positioning Group, has partnered with COYO from the beginning. Alison Watson, a former land surveyor herself, said “Topcon has been integral to the growth and expansion of the programme into more and more countries, so it is wonderful that Position Partners, our first industry partner in Australia, is Topcon’s local distributor.”
“The COYO team couldn’t be happier with this first school adoption in Australia,” she continued. “With its progressive teachers, established STEM curriculum and focus on career pathways for students, Cecil Andrews is an ideal fit to roll out the DEC programme; Position Partners with its incredible range of solutions and knowledgeable team will ensure the students and teachers are well supported throughout.”