Teen entrepreneurs pair with Day of STEM mentors to solve design challenges – Innovateen Design Challenge

Teen entrepreneurs pair with Day of STEM mentors to solve design challenges – Innovateen Design Challenge

The first annual Innovateen Design Challenge was held in March with Sydney secondary schools working alongside Day of STEM industry mentors on a range of real-world design challenges. Brigidine College Randwick hosted the two-day challenge on March 15-16 alongside neighbouring Marcellin College, Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School.

“Johnson & Johnson are happy to be an industry mentor for the Innovateen Design Challenge. We’re very excited to see the solutions and perspectives from the teams! We need the next-generation to be prepared to help solve the problems facing our society in the future.”

Anelo Cournut, Day of STEM Mentor and General Manager for Cardiovascular Solutions, at Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices

During the design challenge students were divided into teams with peers from other schools and assigned a Day of STEM industry mentor and related real-world design challenge. The teams worked together over the course of two days to develop a potential solution for the challenge. The learning objective of the challenge was to provide students with the opportunity to think, design, and pitch like an entrepreneur. The teams employed an entrepreneurial mindset and innovative thinking to solve authentic, community-driven, real-world problems all while having an opportunity to connect with potential career pathways for their future.

Brigidine Randwick Principal, Kate Edmondson remarked, “We’re excited to host students from our neighbouring schools for the very first Innovateen Design Challenge. We’re excited to see how these students can leverage the skills they’ve learned in the classroom to tackle real world innovation challenges.”

Industry mentors from Cisco, JAR Aerospace, Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices, Tesla, and Thankyou presented the design challenges on the first day and returned to judge the pitched solutions on day two. The teams were also supported and coached by business students from University of New South Wales. By connecting talented students with industry leaders and university students, the challenge aims to break down barriers and give young entrepreneurs a glimpse into the possibilities of the future.

Emma Broadbent, Regional Manager of the Cisco Networking Academy, which prepares the next generation to be global problem solvers remarked on Innovateen, “We are thrilled to see our new Secondary School Partner Brigidine College Randwick take the leadership in organising such a fantastic event that promotes entrepreneurial thinking and industry engagement.”

Contact Ren­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ée Hoareau, Director, Education and Engagement at Day of STEM for assistance or enquiries: renee@lifejourney.us