Hi, my name is Carla Dias Wadewitz,
and I am part of the Innovation
and Enterprise teaching team at Flinders University.
Innovation is a critical skill to the jobs of the present
and to the jobs of the future.
At Flinders, we know that the World Economic Forum Outlook
for 2022, has highlighted innovation
as the most important skill for graduates
when they leave University.
The innovation topics at Flinders University,
not just teach you knowledge, we actually focus
on teaching you the skills to apply that knowledge.
That's why students from different colleges and courses,
come together to work on real problems
and come up with solutions that involve many areas
of our industries and markets such as health, space,
energy, waste, isolation, or equality.
Innovation is a skill that is not just taught,
it needs to be practised.
The innovation teaching team at Flinders University,
have industry experience.
And we have put in practise the skills
and the methodologies that we are teaching you.
Because we all have experience, we all went through
that same ideation and solution development.
And that experience allows us to teach
in class the important skills that you'll need
to acquire for the jobs of the future.
So, the way Flinders University links innovation topics,
to industry and in the entrepreneurial ecosystem
in Australia and overseas, is really by giving students
the opportunity to participate in industry programs.
One example is the Flinders enterprise consulting,
where students become consultants working for a company
in a real problem, supported by consulting firms.
The other example is Venture Dorm where students
and entrepreneurs go from ideation to develop a solution
that will transform into a real product and service
to be offered to the market.
All of these programs not only allow Flinders students
to apply their innovation skills
into real industry projects,
but at the same time develop a network of contacts
that is extremely important to land
that job after they graduate.
Next we're going to hear from Richard,
who is a student that is studying robotics
at Flinders University.
Richard had the opportunity
not only to learn about how to apply innovation,
but also learn about industry 4.0 skills,
such as big data analytics, artificial intelligence,
3D printing, robotics and automation.
- Coming to Flinders allowed me to do work experience,
at one of the largest electronic companies
in South Australia, REDARC, as well as going through
the innovation manufacturing accelerator program
here at Flinders, I was able to work
with a company called Orora,
which is also one of the largest companies in Australia
and one of the largest bottle manufacturing companies
in the country.
So, the major outcomes from that was that I was able
to actually work with people in industry,
and manage it at a high level.
It also able to give me guidance outside of university
so it gave me both the learning experience
in university and outside.
And from that through the program,
I was able to actually get a job with the company.
- We'll also hear from Geena,
who is a student at Flinders,
currently studying Innovation and Enterprise.
Geena wants to start her own business.
Therefore Venture Dorm is the right fit.
At Flinders, she had that opportunity,
to apply her innovation skills,
straight into the project that she's been dreaming about.
- So, what's different about innovation topics at Flinders?
Pretty much everything.
You know, when you're a child and you learn things by doing,
you touch things, you try things out,
see how mechanisms work.
And when I came into innovation at Flinders,
I learnt how to do that again.
So, the INNO topics, they challenge you,
and they push you right to the edge of your comfort zone,
but they give you the tools to manage that discomfort
and to get through the uncertainty.
My involvement in the innovation ecosystem here at Flinders
has opened so many doors for me,
I've had the opportunity to participate in Venture Dorm,
a Pre-Accelerator Program for people who want to start
their own business and turn an idea into reality.
The skills I've developed have,
and I would mean to secure a job at a larger company
and I work in the innovation department at RAA.
- At Flinders, we want to prepare you for the jobs
of the future.
So, by teaching you how to apply innovation skills
and connecting you with industry,
we are giving you an advantage to help you
to get the job that you always been dreaming of.
Thank you for visiting Flinders University.
We look forward to welcoming you on campus soon.