Priorities:University of Canberra Student Priorities

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Contents

2019 Strategic Priorities

Change Story Video 2019

Strategy # 1 UC Resources Map

We recognized that the resources on campus are fragmented with no easily accessible information for students. To foster I&E culture on campus it is a critical to connect these resources as well as highlighting their presence. A simple website and/or app that serves as a navigation tool for students to learn more about I&E resources on and off campus is one method to address this issue. The key goal of this website/app is to improve connectivity of existing

resources and to encourage and promote I&E culture on a broad spectrum. This project takes the multifaceted approach addressing multiple issues at once. The website/app will have different subpages to meet different functional requirement. However, the project can also be considered incremental and be implemented in stages as followed:

 A physical map of campus that identify key locations related to I&E. E.g. location of workshop, maker space, millhouse, working spaces.

 A list of off campus resources and supporting organizations including E24, CBR innovation network, KILN incubator this is essentially the landscape canvas organized and visualized. However, this can also include external services run by graduated or current UC students, for example, “Interation”, a 3D printing service by Jon Clever a recent graduate offering discount to current students. Linking these key resources can allow student to easily access services they need for their ideas.

 A list of coming events related to I&E, information and location of those events. This list should include details like accessibility, ticket requirement and related event.

 Once I&E culture are more grounded at UC, it is expected that the user base for this website will increase along with number of student projects in I&E. In reality, this page can also expand beyond I&E and reach into research projects. With sufficient number of users, students seeking collaboration can be listed as well as available idea and projects open to students to join. For example, architecture student seeking sociology student and urban planning student to participate in an international competition or industrial design student seeking business student to collaborate to commercialize designs. This is aimed to break down barrier and improve cross-disciplinary collaboration and further facilitate campus connectivity.

 A search function from a data base that includes key words and topics of above information, so that students can quickly find resources/events/other students and projects.

 An interlinked community with strong presence is successfully established.

Milestones

Location key resources and key project participants

Finding students/staffs from different faculty to locate and report key resources to list in the website. Students and staff members can be approached through emails, posters or simple spread of words. In this manner, locate IT students and visual communication students to form a collaboration group. Design and build the website. Architecture students can be recruited to model a 3D interactive campus map. All student participants can be rewarded by project experience and friendship. Alternatively, construction of this project can be offered as an experimental course testing collaboration and design initiatives of students.

Listing projects and events Finding student with real or proposed project to list on the website

List ongoing research projects at UC, thus the website/app can also be used publicly to promote UC projects. List I&E events on the website with comprehensive details so students can easily access information about future I&E events.

Promotion and building a positive cycle

Promote the website through events, lectures and workshops. The website itself will promote events and as such forms a reinforcing cycle of connectivity.

Maintenance and updates

Select students to run the website, this is potentially linked to students in the proposed committee/taskforce. Potential to generate income from advertising local business and start-ups purely for the purpose of maintaining website. This is critical because many groups failed to maintain activity, this is potentially due to lack of financial support. Update on a semester basis at the minimal

Strategy # 2 UC Student I&E committee

As identified by Innovation Fellow Amannda Huot, disjointed of resources inhibits uninitiated students to experience I&E opportunities. Where a strong, student-led Innovation committee of students would be incredibly beneficial in promoting the various entrepreneurship resources. Where this student-led innovation committee effectively takes on managerial and promotion responsibilities of I&E on campus. During our research on the current ecosystem we noticed many past on campus I&E projects since 2018 are now inactive. We recognized the importance of continuity of I&E projects, this highlights the importance of updating and maintenance of projects on a timely manner as well as recognizing currently active students will eventually graduate and thus selecting successor is a key step to preserve and further growth of I&E culture. We propose an update on Student Led Innovation Committee that specifically address the issue of ongoing maintenance. Considering UC has assigned staff to manage I&E resources on campus, an I&E taskforce consisting of student representatives and professional staffs is a way to directly manage and control I&E resources, promotion and projects. However, we believe the bottom-up student approach should be maintained in order to maintain that student perspective. However, university staff can select or offer the student representative position to students deemed capable and passionate. With periodic meeting and reports to ensure ongoing maintenance and updates.

Milestones

Selecting student representatives

An issue the current clubs and societies faced by the university is that some presidents in the club only wanted to obtain the title to display in CV. Selecting student representatives can be conducted by open offer to students and/or selecting passionate students. Regularly meeting should be set between university staff and the student representatives to ensure project and goals are successfully implemented.

Clearly define roles to student representatives

Specific roles should be assigned to student representatives. As an alternative to Amannda Hout’s proposed structure. We suggest a flat structure with specializations. The roles we currently propose include event organizer(s), promotion and media manager(s), projects manager(s) and maintenance officer(s) each having distinctive duties that complements each other.

 Event Organizer(s) – Organization and coordination of I&E events, however the event organizer is also tasked with finding out suitable events and designing them in the context of UC.

 Promotion and media manager(s) – Produce promotional material and media releases on I&E of UC. He or she is also responsible for promoting a general awareness of I&E culture on campus.

 Project manager(s) – Tasked to discover and organizing student I&E projects. The project manager(s) are also capable I&E thinkers who can guide students to imitate their own I&E projects.

 Maintenance officer(s) – are students tasked with collection information from other student representatives. They work closely with all other representatives and university staff to provide continuous updates on I&E culture.

Ongoing projects and changeovers

The taskforce’s continuous effort in constructing I&E culture should result in more I&E exposure to students in general. This in turn increases student’s interest in I&E activities, this potentially add new member to the taskforce building a positive cycle. However changeovers are necessary and should be conducted on a yearly basis to ensure long-term sustainability and longevity of I&E culture on campus.

Strategy # 3 Cross-disciplinary lectures and workshops

During our interview with students and meetings with university staff members we discovered that student engagement and education silo are major issues faced by University of Canberra students. From I&E perspective, we noticed that uninitiated students have very little knowledge of I&E resources and opportunities. With no current cross-disciplinary workshop and lectures, we were able to ideate a solution to promote more student engagement with I&E culture and the opportunity to be exposed to other disciplines as well as staff and students from different faculties. The solution we propose are series of cross-disciplinary lectures and workshops focused on I&E concepts. Establish a topic of conversation/lecture or workshop series which is open to all students. For example, a screening of a series of documentaries and films on I&E. “Foundation”, where lecturers from faculty of education, arts and design, science and technology and business are invited to discuss, comment and critic I&E concepts as shown in the film in relation to University of Canberra. While the documentaries can be a way of promoting I&E idea to students, the discussion following the film provides opportunity for student to learn more about I&E in context of Canberra and available local resources. This is also a way of promoting cross disciplinary connection and engagement.

Milestones

Deciding suitable events

I&E events including lectures and workshops shouldn’t be selected at random. Carefully planned lectures and workshop series should be selected in the suitable context (Canberra) in order to maximize student engagement. Once the topic has been established, identify key participants (including staff from relevant faculties, local I&E network and entrepreneurs) as lecturer/mentors is the next critical stage.

Promote event through various media

One of the biggest issues of UC is lack of cross media promotion of events. To ensure student participation, the lecture/workshop events should be promoted in multiple channels including social media, flyers, emails, newsletters as well as the resource map and I&E task force as suggested in other strategic priorities.

Review of the event

It is very important to review the event to gauge student participating and learning experience. Content, lecturer/mentor of the workshop and lectures can then be modified to improve the coming events. A positive cycle of I&E engagement can only be built with consistent effort.

Strategy # 4 - UC Cross-Faculty Class

From our interviews with students we discovered students were not socializing or meeting students from outside their area of study, this has created the effect of ‘educational silos’. A cross-faculty class would enhance connection and engagement and give rise to collaboration

opportunities for I&E across faculties. To address this, a class or program could be designed to bridge the Faculties of Arts & Design (FAD) and Business, Government & Law (BGL). This would give students the opportunity to meet new people, introduce them to new thinking styles, strategies and behaviours and expose them to a broader range of agile skills placing them on a stronger footing when they move forward in their professional journeys.

Milestones

Approval and support of stakeholders

Gain permission from important stakeholders from FAD and BGL for a small-scale workshop/prototype, this could be held during orientation week or week 8 of the semester.

Market research + Prototype

Interview students and potential teachers to refine topics of interest for class. Organise a small group of interested students/teachers to put protype class together. Hold Prototype Workshop Market event to target students and hold prototype event and take on board feedback for further refinement. Report event results to faculty stakeholders and the chancellor, discuss opportunities for refinement and further events.

Report Findings and feasibility

If event is successful organise discussions with university stakeholders for potential to be included in the long term (5+ year) curriculum planning.

Take it further

After implementation and review reach out to other faculties and stakeholders (include students) for further collaboration opportunities. How could this be rolled out to create further unique learning and collaboration with areas such as Education, Health and Technology.

2018 Overview

&nbsp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k6Tsfhd9Q0  

2018 Strategy #1 - Create a student led Innovation Committee

Following the research involved in the landscape canvas of UC's current Entrepreneurship and Innovation ecosystem, it becomes clear that UC offers a range of I&E resources that is catered towards the wider entrepreneurship community, that already contain ties to industry. Whilst this is important and beneficial towards the UC community, there is an obvious disconnect of these resources towards students who want an introductory "taste" of I&E, and don't necessarily have any established venture ideas in mind.

This is where the formation of a strong, student-led Innovation committee of students would be incredibly beneficial in promoting the various entrepreneurship resources that we have right on campus. By forming a study body committee from all faculties, marketing and promoting can significantly drive an increase of students coming from a diverse breadth of disciplines and majors. This promotion will come in the form of events, activities, guerilla marketing, which will occur over a cross-platform social media and in conjunction with relevant UC marketing officers  

Milestones:

Recruit and elect suitable student leaders who will form an Innovation Committee

​​Upon initially starting UIF training, I spoke to many students who were interested in design thinking, yet didn’t know which avenues to pursue these interests. By having a nominated  current student in their faculty whom can be easily approached and contacted via e-mail, students can have a casual person to contact to ease any hesitations that may have occurred prior when having to contact a faculty member. 

Allocate roles to recruited student leaders (President, Vice-President, treasurer, 1st Year Leader, Event Organiser etc.)

​Once student change agents have been nominated, contacted and have accepted their position and responsibilities we can start allocating certain roles they would fulfill. This will occur in conjunction with meetings and brainstorming sessions discussing what problems they have encountered in their own faculty and what possible solutions the group can brainstorm and collaborate on. 

Plan a series of related events that highlight and advertise UC's Entrepreneurship resources

​A 3 day event that could tie in with Innovation Week that includes pop-up stalls on the concourse that highlights design thinking and inclusion. These stalls/classes/events would be promoted as low-cost and in general a fun introduction to what design thinking can entail. 

Involve local industry to promote UC's E&I ecosystem

Once the committee has established itself as a strong student innovation committee driving a student movement through events,  the committee can then start approaching local industry to start bridging the gap between student and industry before graduation.

Perform effective changeover of roles to incoming students as current student leaders graduate.

Annually, a changeover should occur in which current student change agents should handover the roles. This process would involve mentoring, in order to continue developing projects so that there is long-term sustainability and longevity of student innovation and entrepreneurship at UC.  

2018 Strategy #2 - Women in STEM and design summit

Examining the current innovation and entrepreneurial clubs and societies during Market Day on O'Week, I was disappointed to see no female representation. From ICT, coding, and entrepreneurship  based societies, no females were present in promoting the clubs awareness. Having stayed and observed a society that promoted entrepreneurship/design thinking, the two most common things spoken by women when expressing their hesitations to join was “My idea in mind isn’t to be an entrepreneur” or “ I wouldn’t fit in well”. Another common quote spoken was  "I'm not an entrepreneurial type person, but I am interested in design thinking”. Having interviewed the president of this club in regards to female representation, he said that there are actually more female members than male, yet when it got to the stage of pursuing a start up, women tended to drop off towards the later stages.

By having a UC Women in STEM and Design Summit we are providing a platform for female ambassadors who are trailblazer's in their respective fields to share their stories and experiences towards the UC community, specifically young women who previously may have been disadvantaged and had to overcome obstacles and challenges as a woman in a male dominated industry. 

Milestones:

Organise an initial meeting with faculty members

​​Undergoing UIF training encouraged me to seek and pursue all resources on campus leading to innovation and entrepreneurship, uncovering networks of faculties whom are highly interested In the student experience and are willing to help student initiatives. By having an early meeting, faculty will be able to give us links to networks whom can help facilitate and aid our event.

Allocate an appropriate date location and time for event

​Once the event has been discussed with relevant administration and faculty, we can then start allocating a date that fits in appropriately with the academic calendar for  the incoming (or next) year. From there an appropriate location will be booked with times to be later confirmed

Reach out to female community leaders for interest

​This will either occur via e-mail or ideally in person through community events, such as the SheLeads conferences whereby we can pitch our idea to female trailblazers in hope that they too share the passion for advocacy at a higher education level.

Write up attendee list and agenda

​After having previously contacted and communicated interest from relevant leader, start organizing attendee list and agenda which should be immersive and experiential in the design thinking process.

Formally invite guest speakers to attend summit

Prepare resources and materials for summit 

2018 Strategy #3 - Establishing an Entrepreneurship & Innovation Help Centre for students on campus

With the release of UC's latest strategic plan 'Distinctive by Design' which outlines UC's own milestone endeavors for the years 2018-2022, Entrepreneurship and Innovation  was at the forefront for strategic importance to the Institution. Therefore, an invested interest should occur in the establishment of an E&I Help Centre on campus, a common hub whereby students can receive advice whilst developing a passion for I&E principles. This goal can easily occur in a pre-established location on campus.

This facility will possess a wide range of built in amenities and facilitative collaboration spaces, from engineering styled labs to open conference room where students can convene to work on group assessments.  It will be a multi purpose space for students, and by students, which can home all club and society meetings and events.  This space can also be used to incubate the beginnings of UC's first startup's in the future.  UPDATE : After further investigation an opening  branch of innovation and entrepreneurship help style center for students called Engage UC, has occurred as a very recent development, opening an avenue for students to be involved.  


Milestones:

Seek whether there is sufficient demand from students and faculty

Uncover a thorough analysis amongst students across campus on their level of interest in this type of support and whether they would use it, after having explained and shown how I&E can be highly relevant and useful towards their own degrees.

Establish rapport with relevant faculty and administration 

Schedule a meeting with faculty leaders to pitch ideas of an innovation space for students with the sole purpose of generating feedback and the feasibility of the on the prospect of either utilizing a pre-existing space or seeking  the foundations of a new space.

Locate sufficient funding (grants, Student Services and Amenities Fee etc.) 

Go to the government homepage and scour the website to help find sources towards grants towards innovation and entrepreneurship for students in higher education, and apply for the relevant  grants.

Source the relevant people to mange the help centre

Utalise the center as a connection point to resources both on and off campus.

Launch of the E&I help centre 

2018 Strategy #4 - Incorporate a UIFresh approach to curriculum for first year's

During interviews with incoming first year students at UC, it was found that whilst many said they would be interested in learning about Entrepreneurship and Innovation , they wouldn't necessarily go out of their way to seek various avenue's and pathways. This can be amended by bringing the E&I to first years,  during orientation week, where they are initially discovering what UC has to offer.

The incorporation of design thinking into the curriculum of first year students in all faculties will be incredibly beneficial, as the design thinking skills learned will produce a significant impact on the entrepreneurship and innovation landscape at UC, which will bring long term and continual benefits to students own professional careers.

 

Milestones:

Gain faculty permission to run a UIFresh inspired design thinking workshop for incoming students as part of orientation week.

Oraganise a planning committee of dedicated students who have a vested interest in E&I from a range of background majors.

Analyse existing curriculum for first years and  see what need improvements and amendments.

Introduce new E&I introductory elective courses for first year students

Present a report findings to the faculty and chancellor for implementation

Advise any implementation of changes to the course.

​Related Links

UC UIF Wiki 

University_of_Canberra

Fall 2019 UIF

Belinda Harris

Qiaochu 'Andrew' Yang

Spring 2018 UIF

Amannda_huot

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