October 17, 2024

Student innovation on display at UOW

Engineering and Information Sciences tradeshow and innovation exhibition give a clear glimpse into the technological future

Are you looking for a way to make your life easier?

Well take note, with two consecutive events – the annual School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT) Trade Show and the School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering (SECTE) Innovation Conference and Exhibition – showcasing student inventions and innovations.

The SCIT Trade Show is set to take place Thursday, 17 October, presenting 25 capstone projects that hope to revolutionise Australian industries.

Working with industry professionals, students were tasked with creating technological solutions that address real-world challenges, tackling critical issues across a range of sectors, including information and communication technology, healthcare, education, law, cybersecurity, welfare and gaming – providing tools that would not only enhance business operations for clients but also improve everyday life.

The event will feature innovations ranging from an all-in-one Patient Portal for seamless healthcare management to real-time deepfake detection during audio calls, demonstrating the diverse applications of technology in solving real-world problems.

The caliber of the projects, including mobile apps, games, and innovative software, highlights the strong collaboration between University of Wollongong (UOW) students and industry professionals.

Cyber Security lecturer Dr John Le said the collaboration has allowed students to apply their technical and business skills in real world settings, creating solutions that are already making an impact.

“By integrating industry experience into their learning, the projects encourage students to step out of the safety of the classroom and step into their future careers as Australia’s next generation of innovators,” Dr Le said.

“The SCIT Trade Show not only reflects the talent and creativity of UOW students but also serves as a platform for these young professionals to demonstrate their potential to prospective employers.”

The SECTE Innovation Conference and Exhibition, held on Friday 18 October is focused on engineering design solutions.

The SECTE conference includes keynote talks from Dr Sasha Nikolic on the impact of AI in engineering, UOW start-up presentations, student thesis and project presentations, and a panel discussion on the impact of AI on academia and industry between industry, academia and students.

Head of the School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering Associate Professor Raad Raad said the students have again come through with a range of exciting and innovative ideas. Further stating how critical these projects are.

“Engineering Design and Management 2 and Engineering Design and Management 3are two critical subjects that our second- and third-year engineering students get the opportunity to work in teams and carry out a project that they then demonstrate to the general public.”

“These subjects allow the students to bring together all the technical aspects of their learning and mix it with team communications to deliver a final product.”

The SECTE Innovation Exhibition is split into sections, with third-year students presenting solutions to real-world challenges posed by industry partners or their own innovative ideas. Second year students showcase projects within three main sectors, smart home automation, interactive STEM learning and elderly assistance.

By integrating industry experiences, students are encouraged to step out of the safety of the classroom and into their future careers, demonstrating their potential as young professionals to prospective employers.