More than 400 HP educational initiatives across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) are changing the way we learn. They are introducing technology into classrooms and encouraging students to tackle subjects like mathematics, science and engineering, leading more of them towards high-tech careers.
Garth Hill College in the UK achieved Technology College status thanks to support from a number of private sector partners, including HP. For the college, which caters for pupils aged 11 to 17, IT infrastructure is integral to its long-term vision for teaching and learning.
Financial support
HP provided half of the £50,000 budget the college needed to raise from the private sector to support the technology status bid. As a result of the successful bid the ratio of students to computers has fallen from 10:1 to 5:1.
“Academically, the school had been under-performing,” says Principal Stan Turner. “There have now been significant improvements. We approached HP and other local businesses for financial support and then launched our bid for Technology College status. We had to go through hoops, it took about a year, but we achieved our goal.”
In Poland, HP is supporting a nationwide project called 'Internet in Schools' that establishes state-of-the-art computer labs in schools and sets up nationwide competitions such as 'The Internet Olympic School' to encourage young people to take an active interest in information technology.
It also aims to promote new technologies in schools located in areas with fewer commercial opportunities. HP has funded seven fully equipped computer labs, each worth nearly US$ 40,000, providing access to information technology for young people.
IT support
Meanwhile, last year, HP provided the IT support for the School Robotics Challenge in the UK. More than 1,000 schoolchildren took part in ‘Ocean Odyssey’ on 28-29 November, giving research presentations about the health, biodiversity and productivity of the oceans, in various styles from dance to plays.
The teams also used their robots to complete ocean rescue missions – such as cleaning up a cargo ship accident – in the shortest time possible. The panel of judges included university academics, HP Labs students and numerous science and engineering ambassadors from local industry.
In Finland, HP is assisting a neighbour – the Mankkaanpuro School – to achieve its potential with mobile technology solutions. It is a normal state-funded school located close to HP Espoo office that is specialising in IT.
Likewise, HP is supporting the first German Regional Gymnasium, near its site in Brno, Czech Republic, to become an information technology gymnasium. With a long-term goal to establish similar schools in other parts of the Czech Republic, new projects are already under way in Prague and in Carlsbad.
HP can improve teaching and learning opportunities through technology and grants.
Individual employees can also get involved with their communities and many HP employees readily take up this option.
The aim of HP education projects is for technology to help teachers and students engage with the curriculum in new ways. Better overall qualifications will offer more employment opportunities to young people and will benefit communities and businesses alike.
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