• Students to solve problems affecting the community at bootcamp at Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga

High school and university students will learn critical skills and solve real-world issues during a bootcamp at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.

The Emerge Program Design Thinking Bootcamp will split high school students from Years 9 to 11 on day one and university students on day two into small teams to solve an issue affecting the community.

Teams will work through a design process to reach the best solution then pitch their ideas to a judging panel, who will choose a winning design.

Each university student team member of the winning team will receive a $350 Mastercard cash card and all university participants will be entered into a draw for a week’s worth of dinners from MyChef Cuisine.

The program is funded by the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Community fund and run by the Charles Sturt University Innovation Hubs, which has partnered with the Young Change Agents and Code Club Australia.

Participants will develop skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, digital literacy, communication, collaboration, creativity, leadership and innovation.

Acting Manager of the Innovation Hubs Ms Siobhain Howard said the Emerge Program is designed to future-proof young people for an uncertain and ever-evolving workforce.

“This bootcamp is offered as part of a wider initiative being rolled out across Wagga Wagga to build skills that will enable young people to be prepared for the future workforce,” Ms Howard said.

“We encourage teachers on behalf of high school students, to register their place for this program.”

The event for high school students in Years 9 to 11 will be held online on Tuesday 18 May and registrations can be made by emailing innovate@csu.edu.au .

The event for university students will be held on Wednesday 19 May in building 6 at Charles Sturt in Wagga Wagga and registrations can be made online via Eventbrite.