Coca-Cola Careers Expo Teachers’ Evening

9 August 2006

Coca-Cola Careers Expo Teachers’ Evening a resounding success

Auckland teachers received crucial insight into today’s career market last night at the 2006 Coca-Cola Careers Expo Teachers’ Evening. This is the second year the Teachers’ Evening has run in Auckland, and organisers say they couldn’t have hoped for a better response.

300 teachers gathered at Auckland Showgrounds for the preview event and the opportunity to interact with the 120 Coca-Cola Careers Expo exhibitors who were manning their stands.

Guest speaker Dr. Stuart Middleton, Executive Director of Student Affairs at MIT, expressed that it was not only a great opportunity for teachers to learn about current careers, but also a chance for tertiary and workplace providers to gain understanding from the teachers’ perspective.

Maggie Hames, organiser of the Teachers’ Evening, believed Dr Middleton’s career experience in both the secondary and tertiary sectors made him an excellent choice for the evening.

Hames also felt the exhibitors made a stronger impact this year as well.

“The exhibitors were extremely pro-active last night. They were really drawing people into their stands and engaging them in dialogue. Many teachers came away with various resources that they’d picked up from the event,” says Hames.

The Teachers’ Evening was borne out of the Coca-Cola Careers Advisory board acknowledging secondary school teachers as the key career-influencers for students.

Subject teachers have direct relationships with their students, and are frequently the first point of contact when it comes to career guidance. Their input is important when it comes to kids making the inevitable post-secondary school decisions.

But without exposure to what careers are available it is difficult for teachers to maintain currency and offer informed advice. The Coca-Cola Careers Expo Teachers’ Evening tackles and overcomes this problem.

Isobel Coleman, subject teacher at Auckland Girls Grammar, found the evening extremely beneficial.

“It felt like this year had even more insight into what’s happening than ever before. My year 13 students are here today, and I came away from last night feeling so inspired I prepared an extra worksheet for the girls to bring along with them!” says Coleman.

The Teachers’ Evening was trialed at last year’s Auckland event and the response was very positive. 2006 has seen the four events throughout the country incorporate Teachers’ Evenings into their agenda as well.

Auckland is the second-to-last event on the 2006 Coca-Cola Careers Expo calendar and is running from 9th-11th August. It follows Christchurch and Dunedin, with Wellington taking place August 16th -17th 2006.

ENDS

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