• Charles Sturt to host online technology summit and hackathon with IBM and ITIC
• The NSW Virtual Technology Summit and Hackathon will be held on Monday 22 June and Tuesday 23 June
• Students from Charles Sturt and Years 11 and 12 in the central west have already registered

The global lockdowns, change to online learning and working, and increased scams and security breaches during COVID-19 have shown the importance placed on information technology and cyber security.

Charles Sturt University has joined with industry leaders IBM and ITIC to host the regional NSW Virtual Technology Summit and Hackathon.

This is the first time the event will be hosted online, due to COVID-19 gathering restrictions, and will require participants to use their knowledge and problem-solving skills in a virtual challenge.

Day one brings together speakers for those interested in AI/data science, cyber security or software defined network and storage.

Participants will learn about the hackathon challenge they will be required to complete on day two of the event.

Charles Sturt’s Associate Head of the School of Computing and Mathematics Professor Tanveer Zia said cyber security threats continue to grow as the adoption of technology increases, however, Australia does not have a sufficiently-trained workforce to handle the threats.

“Charles Sturt University is committed to leading cyber security education and research, particularly in our communities,” he said.

“By participating in the Technology Summit and Hackathon, Charles Sturt University will contribute to increasing awareness of young students about the cyber threats to better prepare them for future jobs, regardless of their profession.”

Course director for undergraduate computing courses in the School of Computing and Mathematics and member of the Institute for Land, Water and Society Dr Michael Antolovich said challenges like this give university students real-world experience and encourage high school students to study computing or cyber security courses after they graduate.

“They get a feel for what sort of issues there are and the types of problems that can occur,” he said.

“With this lockdown, information technology has become even more important to keep people connected and cyber security attacks have been more prominent than before.”

“We are interested in getting students involved and excited by the systems involved now.”

Dr Antolovich said the event would suit students with an interest in computer science or information technology or those with programming skills.

Registrations for the free event are now open via the Eventbrite website.