Swinburne Innovation Challenge | June 2025

Tomorrow’s employees need to be innovators and problem solvers.

The Swinburne Innovation Challenge is a 1-day program that utilises a blended model of delivery. Small teams of high ability year 10 to 12 students will be supported through a scaffolded process to choose a challenge, ideate a solution and deliver a prototype and, optionally, a short video pitch. The program includes a day on campus where students will have the opportunity to access our labs and teaching spaces and experience life as a university student.

By participating in the program, students will...

• Build an understanding of diverse ways of thinking and innovation frameworks.
• Collaborate in multi-disciplinary teams to leverage different skills and perspectives.
• Extend knowledge in their chosen subject area.

To start the program, teachers register their students in multi-disciplinary teams of 4-6 and select a challenge to address related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. After forming their teams and selecting the challenge focus, students will attend a one-day on-campus experience at Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus.

This will comprise two 45-minute Innovation Kickstarter workshops and a 50-minute Subject Masterclass workshop for each student’s preferred area of interest, with additional campus activities available in the morning. Students can choose their area of interest from these subject options:

• Business Management
• Legal Studies
• Product Design and Technology
• Physical Education
• Psychology
• Engineering
• Applied Computing
• Physics
• Sociology
• Media

Finally, students will regroup into their teams and have the opportunity to share what they have learned from the Masterclass Workshops. As a cross-disciplinary team, they may use this new specialist knowledge to contribute to their team's prototype. 
 
Optionally, may continue to work in their teams to refine their idea and create a final pitch. Final pitches are submitted in the form of a 1-2 min video and a panel of Swinburne experts will evaluate them and award prizes in a range of categories.

Places are also open to Non-Government Schools for a nominal fee per student. Please inquire for details at  schoolprograms@swin.edu.au. 
 
Swinburne University of Technology acknowledges the support of the Department of Education and Training, Victoria, through the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series. This program is available to high ability students at government schools.