School to Skies
Introduction
School to Skies is a New Zealand program created in 2017 and led by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), with the aim of increasing female participation in technical and operational areas of defense. Over time, the program has evolved, also encompassing broad diversity and inclusion actions, becoming a model of good practices in attracting girls to the aerospace sector, especially in STEM areas applied to military operations.
Purpose of the best practice/guidance
Reporting on the program highlights well-structured practices that can be replicated or adapted by governments, armed forces, educational institutions, or companies in different countries. School to Skies serves as a benchmark for other inclusion initiatives that promote STEM training in the aeronautical context.
Documenting the program confirms the importance of female representation in predominantly male-dominated areas, such as the military sector. This contributes to strengthening public diversity policies and validating investments in affirmative actions, including under the precept of EDIA (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility).
This report also highlights how immersive experiences are more effective than merely theoretical or informative actions. This strengthens the argument that actions to attract the sector need to go beyond traditional outreach, adopting more engaging methods.
Intended audience
The target audience is girls in their final year of school, aged around 17-18, from all over New Zealand, who are studying math and science subjects and who are interested in exploring career possibilities in STEM, within military aviation or the armed forces in general.
The girls need to have a healthy profile and a good level of physical fitness, as this is a military program that involves intense physical activities.
Description
The programme is based on week-long camps, aimed at girls in their final year of secondary school. The camps are held every year in different regions of New Zealand, with all expenses covered by the RNZAF, such as accommodation, food and uniforms. Participants only need to cover the costs of transport to the location and, if necessary, can apply for financial support. During the programme, participants live as if they were military personnel for a week, carrying out practical activities and workshops related to areas such as:
- Aerodynamics and flight fundamentals
- Air mission planning
- Aircraft maintenance
- Aircraft operation
- Leadership workshops
- Design of aeronautical components
- Interactions with women in the air force who work in technical and operational areas.
Impacts / Outcomes
Since its inception, School to Skies has impacted hundreds of girls by:
- Reducing gender inequality in the military
- Increasing female students’ self-confidence in relation to their potential in STEM fields
- Establishing a connection between high school and real career opportunities in the military sector
- Humanizing the military environment, promoting acceptance and inspiration through contact with active professionals, especially women
- Promoting female representation. Showcasing women working in technical fields transforms the perception of what is achievable.
- Including educators and families in the participants’ journey strengthens the results
- Government initiatives can be highly transformative in the long term, when well-designed and with institutional support.
Lessons learned
The School to Skies program offers important lessons, including:
Representation: seeing women working in the military environment inspires vocations.
Practical experience: by placing young women in real situations of the day-to-day life of a military woman, it brings the girls closer to this reality.
Impact power: if well planned, short-term programs can have a high impact on the lives of participants.
Investment in women: investing in women not only impacts the workforce, but also diversity.
Web link
https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/programmes-and-resources/school-to-skies/
Contact
ontheroad@nzdf.mil.nz
Authors and Contributors
New Zealand Defence Force
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