Giving students a real taste of the real world – and what it’s really like to be an adult – is what the Young Innovators Awards hands to students across the Western Bay of Plenty.

That’s what Ōtūmoetai College teacher Ceri Blears-Woodcock reckons – and she’d know. Ceri has been her school’s yia! programme facilitator for 10 years, only handing over the baton this year to fellow teacher Kristy Lance.

Its 14th year in the Western Bay of Plenty, Yia! has received more than 670 registrations from nine schools. Ōtūmoetai College has the most registrations for 2023, with 28 teams signed up.

The programme is delivered by economic development agency Priority One in partnership with local businesses and schools.

Yia! challenges intermediate and secondary students to develop and apply key skills of design thinking such as creativity, collaboration and communication while coming up with an innovative product or service.

Ceri says Yia! is a great opportunity for students to learn soft skills they don’t necessarily learn at school.

“No matter what your ability, you are stretched – whether it’s phoning someone for the first time who is not within school or speaking to the council or something like that.”

Ceri says this makes the programme an amazing opportunity for students to solve a real-life issue in a collaborative way.

“The process challenges students to think critically and develop key life skills that will serve them well in the future.

“Basically, school education is like a bubble – this [yia!] enables students to learn a completely different skillset. What they’re doing is working with people in the real world, collaborating, communicating, they’re having to think all these things through.”

As a result, Ceri says the innovation process allows all students to learn something about themselves.

“Students will, at some stage during yia!, sit in a space that’s out of their comfort zone, which sets the foundation for resilience. For me that’s the most profound learning experience we can offer our students,” says Ceri, who believes Ōtūmoetai College’s continued success in the event “is due to the mahi of our staff and students who, year-after-year, show unwavering passion, dedication and drive”.

With 2023’s finalists now chosen for Intermediate (Year 7-8), Junior (Year 9-10), and Senior (Year 11-13), People’s Choice voting is now open.

Students can win up to $2000 cash, plus a chance to develop their innovation with leading businesses as a category winner.

The awards night is September 6. Vote now at: https://yia.co.nz