Our 2025 camp runs between the 20th to 25th of January

 

We aim to provide students from non-traditional backgrounds who may face barriers towards tertiary education with experiences to grow and discover STEM pathways, as well as meet like-minded peers.

“We hope to show all of our students that pursuing tertiary education is a real possibility for every single one of them.”

 

Vision and Mission

The Ignite Engineering Camp is entirely inclusive and fully funded, where students stay for the whole week in university accomodation. It provides students with a unique experience, showing them what tertiary education and technology-related fields are like, while they are still studying in high school. This can encourage students to pursue STEM as a career, and to show them this pathway is accessible and achievable.

Ignite seeks to break down the barrier students face to tertiary education by:

  • Providing students with the opportunity to experience STEM subjects in a tertiary context

  • Promoting the cultivation of relationships between diverse people groups to support future diversity in the workplace

  • Equipping students with knowledge of different university courses and pathways

  • Strengthening inter-cultural ties within Aotearoa

  • Providing students with the tools and support they need to pursue their goals and maximise their potential

 

2024 Stats

14 staff volunteered.

29 students enrolled.

14 staff volunteered. 29 students enrolled.

79% students were female.

44% students more motivated to pursue tertiary education after camp.

66% students felt better prepared to overcome challenges facing attending university.

79% students were female. 44% students more motivated to pursue tertiary education after camp. 66% students felt better prepared to overcome challenges facing attending university.

 

Ignite Engineering Camp is a Youth Without Borders initiative

Learn More
 

History

The first Ignite Engineering Camp began in 2022, following the Spark Engineering Camps that have been running in Australia since 2011. The same camp in all but name, we started as a project to bring together students studying diverse fields of engineering and STEM based disciplines to give them a life changing opportunity. Every year, our wonderful volunteer staff create an action packed week of engaging STEM activities at universities around Auckland.

Our sister camp, Spark, originated in Brisbane in 2011, then expanded its scope in 2014 with the creation of the first Melbourne camp. Both camps have successfully run every year since other than 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. In 2019, we hosted our biggest camps ever.

“We believe that the right to tertiary education should be equally accessible to people from all cultures, backgrounds and communities. Our aim is to break down the barriers students face to accessing university through the support, encouragement and equipment of our students.”