Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) is connecting universities and our tech leaders to drive innovation and create future jobs in Western Sydney.
Under a new partnership with Western Sydney University, students from the University’s School of Computer, Data and Mathematical Sciences are working on a capstone project with WSI.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said that emerging technologies and smart ways to use data at Sydney’s new airport will revolutionise the travel experience for first time flyers.
“It’s exciting for us to be able to draw on the skills and creativity of Western Sydney’s bright young minds to deliver a great airport experience,” said Mr Hickey.
"Aspiring tech researchers will capture vital data to help us inform airport operations and deliver a superior customer experience at Sydney’s newest gateway.”
WSI’s technology partner, DXC Technology, is key to enabling this fresh approach to problem solving, enabling WSI to leverage young talent while helping Cyber Security and Networked Systems Major students develop industry-based, job-ready skills. Top mentors from DXC Technology are taking the students through an agile software development process and working on new bespoke Majors with Western Sydney University to upskill students for tomorrow’s jobs.
The student’s mentors also include tech startup company founders supported through the University’s Launch Pad Technology Business Incubator to drive innovation in solving problems and creating solutions.
Speaking at today’s Canterbury-Bankstown Business Chamber Business After 5 event, Mr Hickey announced the initiative and told around 500 guests that WSI has opened the door to exciting new possibilities in Western Sydney for everyone.
“The airport will redefine and reshape our region, pulling the centre of economic gravity toward the west, bringing with it not just more jobs, but higher-quality, higher paying jobs,” he said.
“People will no longer have to travel to the east to be a software engineer, a university lecturer or even a CEO. The transformation underway means these jobs are coming to Sydney’s West.“
Western Sydney University said the innovative partnership is bringing together talented students from the University and connecting them with industry leaders to innovate around the future airport. The partnership’s proactive approach is already seeing a new WSI internship-based Major, Enterprise Systems and Architectures, spearheaded by the Information and Communications Technology Director of Academic Program at the University, Dr Tomas Trescak.
Don Wright, Executive Director, Enterprise at Western Sydney University, said the airport is driving once-in-a-lifetime investment and opportunity in Sydney’s West.
“In partnering with Western Sydney International Airport and DXC Technology, we can provide students with the opportunity to gain hands on experience within this exciting project,” said Mr Wright.
“As part of the collaborative partnership, the group of students has developed an innovative, data-driven solution to a real-world brief, contributing their skills and network building as part of the immersive experience."
The first project will be completed in June this year, with the intention to increase student participation and expand it across other professions at WSI.
Images and vision are available for download here.
Pictures: WSI CEO Simon Hickey; WSI Manager Emerging Technologies, Corey Stewart; and Western Sydney University students Vikramjeet Kaler and Fernando Hernandez.
