Inspiring Future Engineers: How Project X Turned Curiosity into Confidence at Waikowhai Intermediate

On 12 August 2025, the IET Auckland Network returned to Waikowhai Intermediate School to deliver its second annual Project X electronics workshop. While the programme itself ran for just one day, its impact reached far beyond the classroom, offering students a rare opportunity to engage directly with engineering through hands-on problem-solving rather than theory alone.

The aim of Project X is simple but powerful: to make engineering tangible, accessible, and engaging at an early age. Instead of presenting engineering as something distant or overly complex, the workshop places real tools and real challenges in front of students, encouraging them to learn by doing.

The response from the school community reflected the success of that approach. Teaching principal David King shared his feedback after the session:

“Things went well, and the children enjoyed themselves and learnt a lot. Thank you again for the IET team’s time.”

That balance of enjoyment and learning set the tone for the day and highlighted why experiential STEM outreach continues to be so effective.

Engineering brought out of textbooks and into practice

The workshop was delivered by members of the IET Auckland committee and a group of dedicated volunteers, led by Gowrishankar Sunthanthirapalan. Alongside him, Anne George, Clive Jordan, Chunyu Cao, Frank Lewis, Mauro Resta, Max Ramachandran, and Peter Selwyn worked closely with students throughout the programme.

Rather than leading from the front, the volunteers embedded themselves among the students, guiding them through each stage of the activity and encouraging questions as they arose. This approach mirrors how engineering skills are developed in professional environments, where structured guidance, safety awareness, and practical competence go hand in hand.

In formal training pathways, these principles are reinforced through structured learning such as health and safety training for engineers, which ensures that technical ability is always underpinned by safe and responsible working practices. Introducing these ideas early helps students understand that engineering is as much about how you work as what you build.

Industry involvement that makes careers feel real

A defining feature of Project X was the direct involvement of industry professionals. Alstef Group supported the workshop by providing three practising engineers — Chunyu Cao, Mauro Resta, and Max Ramachandran — who worked alongside students throughout the day.

Their presence added a valuable real-world dimension. By sharing personal experiences, explaining how their work applies beyond the classroom, and answering questions about engineering careers, they helped demystify what engineers actually do.

This kind of visibility matters. When learners of any age can see clear, authentic pathways into a profession, confidence increases and uncertainty decreases. In adult and vocational education, transparency and trust play a similar role, which is why learner outcomes and feedback, reflected through resources such as a training provider reviews page, are treated as an essential part of building credibility.

For the students at Waikowhai Intermediate, meeting real engineers helped turn an abstract idea into something achievable.

Building robots and building confidence

The centrepiece of the workshop was a robot-building activity that guided students through the full engineering process. They began by identifying electronic components and understanding their purpose before moving on to assembling circuit boards and soldering parts into place.

For many, it was the first time they had ever held a soldering iron. Initial hesitation quickly gave way to confidence as projects began to take shape. Students then moved on to basic programming, bringing their robots to life and seeing immediate results from their work.

Moments where things did not work as planned became learning opportunities. Fault-finding, patience, and teamwork were actively encouraged. These are the same skills required in real engineering environments, where processes such as safe isolation procedures in electrical work exist to ensure tasks are carried out methodically and safely.

By the end of the session, the sense of achievement was clear. Students could explain not just what they had built, but how it worked and why certain decisions mattered.

Why initiatives like Project X matter

Project X is more than a single outreach event. It reflects a broader effort to widen access to engineering and encourage young people to see technical careers as both viable and rewarding.

Early exposure plays a significant role in shaping long-term perceptions. When students associate engineering with creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving, they are more likely to explore it further as they progress through education.

Modern engineering also carries a growing responsibility around sustainability and ethical practice. Many training organisations now embed these values into their operations through commitments such as a formal carbon reduction plan for training providers, reinforcing the idea that engineering is not just about building systems, but about building them responsibly.

Introducing these themes early helps students understand the wider impact of technical work.

Learning skills beyond the technical

While the robots were the most visible outcome of the day, the workshop also focused heavily on communication and collaboration. Students worked in groups, explained their thinking, listened to feedback, and adapted their approach where needed.

These skills are essential in professional engineering roles, where success often depends on clear communication as much as technical ability. In structured training environments, this is reflected in learning outcomes that emphasise effective communication in construction and engineering, recognising that projects rarely succeed in isolation.

By embedding communication naturally into the activity, Project X allowed students to develop these skills without the pressure of formal assessment.

Looking ahead

The long-term value of Project X will not be measured by how many students immediately choose engineering as a career. Its real success lies in expanding horizons and building confidence.

For some students, this workshop may be the first time engineering felt approachable. For others, it may simply have planted a seed of curiosity. Both outcomes matter.

As discussions continue across the industry about why engineering and trade careers remain a strong long-term choice, initiatives like Project X provide practical, visible examples of how early engagement can make a difference. By combining education, industry involvement, and hands-on experience, Project X shows what’s possible when young people are given the opportunity to explore engineering in a supportive and engaging environment.