• Charles Sturt in Port Macquarie hosts 65 high school students for hands-on entrepreneur challenge
• Challenge provides students with unique educational experiences to test and develop their business knowledge and skills
• Charles Sturt academics and leaders from local government, businesses and the community will offer support during the challenge

Sixty-five high school students from Port Macquarie will visit Charles Sturt University (Charles Sturt) to take part in a week-long education challenge to discover what it takes to become an entrepreneur.

The illuminate:nextgen Challenge is an intensive education program that requires students to work in teams to complete a series of hands-on tasks and activities that are key to developing strong business ideas and getting a new business up and running.

More than 8500 students from across Australia have already competed in the challenge, with Port Macquarie students set to compete during the first week of September.

Associate Dean (Research) of the Charles Sturt Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences Professor Mark Morrison played a key role in bringing the program to Port Macquarie and is one of the University academics who will offer support and advice to students during the program. 

“The challenge is a wonderful opportunity for high school students to learn the basics of business from leading academics, local businesses and the program’s experts,” Professor Morrison said.

“During the program, students will explore contemporary issues facing Australian businesses, Australia’s changing workforce and the new skills and capabilities that are required to succeed in the modern workplace.”

Port Macquarie students will be challenged to develop and pitch new ideas and businesses that will encourage younger people to stay in the Mid North Coast region.

Students will be supported throughout the challenge by skilled facilitators, academics from Charles Sturt, business leaders, and members from local government and the community. 

Charles Sturt’s Director of External Engagement in Port Macquarie Ms Kate Wood-Foye said the challenge offers a unique educational opportunity for students, and that Charles Sturt was thrilled to host and provide academic support for the challenge.

“The topic students will explore and develop ideas for is a real life issue faced by regional youth, so we are looking forward to seeing the creative business solutions they will come up with given the topic is close to home for many students,” Ms Wood-Foye said.

The illuminate:nextgen Challenge was designed by Australian entrepreneur Adam Mostogl to enable students to develop solutions to issues within their community and the world through exploring the root challenges and researching them, brainstorming solutions, and then refining these solutions.

The week-long challenge will be held at Charles Sturt in Port Macquarie from Monday 2 to Friday 6 September 2019.

The program is co-hosted by the Charles Sturt Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences School, Future Moves, and Illuminate Education.