Students keyed into coding

Orion Health CEO Ian McCrae introduces Codeworx to Taradale High School students. Photo / Supplied

Talented Taradale High School students are getting creative with code. They are taking part in Orion Health's Codeworx Competition, allowing them to use code to solve real-world problems.

To enter students were required to create a project using a Raspberry Pi (a credit card-sized computer that can be used in electronics projects) that either solves a real world problem or could be useful in someone's everyday life.

This is the second year Taradale High has been involved. Technology teacher Lua MacRaghnaill said the competition gave students opportunities.

"I feel students should be more than just users, they should have the tools to create and influence their own digital future," he said.

"Codeworx brings a hands-on interest to computer science and has helped debunk some of the complexity that students might perceive around the subject."

ICT is one of New Zealand's fastest growing export sectors, but recruitment of qualified software engineers and technicians remains an ongoing challenge.

Orion Health CEO Ian McCrae, said Codeworx helped get bright students interested in coding. "Computer science isn't necessarily focused on by schools, but demand in the marketplace is huge."

"We're encouraging the next generation to view software development as an exciting career choice."

Now in its third year, the level of interest in the competition continued to grow with entries nationwide already doubling this year. Students can win $1250 cash and $5000 worth of equipment.

Previous winners have devised solutions to help reduce driveway accidents, help the blind and make supermarket shopping easier.

"With code, the sky's the limit."