Dalby “Designathon”: Connecting regional schools with technology in the manufacturing industry
Surat Basin region students and teachers came together to learn from manufacturing experts, and take ideas to concepts for judging by industry leaders.
As the manufacturing industry grows, so does the need for an appropriately skilled workforce. The regional student “Designathon” provided an opportunity for students and teachers to facilitate the connection between curriculum and real-life implications. For an interested student, helped them make informed decisions about post-school training, education and employment.
Proudly sponsored by Arrow Energy and partnered with the Queensland Manufacturing Institute, the Gateway to Industry Schools Program — Advanced Manufacturing (GISP) hosted Surat Basin teachers and students at the two-day event delivered by the Arc Hardware Incubator.
Aimed at Years 9–12 students, the “Designathon” gave students a chance to deliver a prototype from conception to creation. Working in teams, with a variety of tools at their disposal (from cutting-edge prototyping technologies to mentorship from practising industry experts), the two-day event aimed to mimic the stages of developing a real-life manufacturing start-up.
Projects were designed to focus on agricultural science, technology, engineering, art and design, and mathematics (STEAM) products and solutions, and following the final presentations, a team of experts judged and awarded prizes to the best teams.
The Advanced Manufacturing GISP Manager, Jules McMurtrie, said: “It was great to provide resources to support young individuals. It engaged them in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the creative industries, so that they can develop the ideas of tomorrow. A big thanks to industry partners like Arrow Energy who support local communities with their social investment to provide opportunities regional communities like the Surat Basin. ”
Family, friends, government representatives, industry experts and media were invited to attend the final judging presentation “pitches” by students on Tuesday, 25 February 2020. Among the judging panel were local engineers and business leaders from the advancing manufacturing sector in Dalby, including Arrow Energy.
Arc CEO, Victor Vicario, said: “We recognise the importance of inspiring the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to address and solve real-world problems. One of our key focusses is providing youth innovators with the know-how to efficiently commercialise their ideas, to ensure that their business models are sustainable and to maximise the benefit to society as well as the environment.”
Throughout the “Designathon”, teachers learnt about the skills needed to better support students, whilst students themselves discovered what a career in the manufacturing industry entails along with the benefits it can provide.
PAST EVENT PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Dalby State High School Trade Training Centre, 18082 Warrego Hwy, Dalby QLD 4405
Monday 24 Feb 2020
9:00 am Introduction
10:30 am Teams are formed
10:30 am to 3pm business validation and prototyping
12:30 pm to 1:45 pm Industry mentors visit
Tuesday 25 Feb 2020
9:00 am Team Check in And Debrief
10:00 am Pitching Workshop
12:30 pm Judges arrive
1:00pm Judges seated and pitches will begin
2:15pm Pitches conclude. Judges to deliberate on winners and prizes
2:30pm Winners and prizes announced
2:55pm Brief networking session for judges/students/mentors
3:30pm Event concludes
Student Designathon aims
To stimulates design thinking and entrepreneurship
To teach students about a wide variety of cutting-edge prototyping technologies to create products ie Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) etc
To working in teams to encourage the use of communication skills to quickly develop ideas and business propositions
To mimic the stages of developing a real-life start-up and its product
More about the Gateway to Industry Schools Program — Advanced Manufacturing (formally Manufacturing and Engineering)
The GISP Adv Man has been hosted by QMI Solutions since 2009.
The GISP Adv Man is a component of state-wide industry engagement and workforce development strategy to support the long-term development of a highly-skilled workforce in Queensland funded and supported by the Queensland Government
QMI assists to deliver the vision of the Queensland Government committed to growing manufacturing in this state as a critical driver of innovation and productivity in the economy.