The University of Sydney is partnering with the Møller Institute and the Wellcome Sanger Institute to deliver a unique programme focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship.
As part of their 2016-2020 strategic plan, the University of Sydney is transforming the student experience by focusing on global experiences, inter-disciplinary learning, and real-world projects. One such project, involving 25 undergraduates, is in Cambridge, UK in February (11-15) at the Møller Institute and will address the complex challenges of creating an innovation ecosystem in the real-world context of the Cambridge tech-cluster.
Dr Spence, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney explained, “The ICPU program represents one of the most exciting parts of the new University of Sydney curriculum and we are immensely proud of the work produced by our students’ learning experiences.”
As part of the programme the students will focus on a project based on the long-term vision and ethos of the Wellcome Genome Campus; home to some of the world’s foremost genomics and biodata institutes and organisations. The undergraduates are tasked to envision what that Campus could look like in 15-20 years, focusing on the physical, social, economic and cultural aspects of the site.
The students are working in interdisciplinary groups, under the guidance of Møller Associates and academic staff from the University of Sydney, they are also receiving project-specific input from the Møller Institute and the Wellcome Sanger Institute. The students have been briefed to explore both the physical and intangible qualities that produce and nurture innovative individuals and help foster the formation of an innovation/entrepreneurship ecosystem that continuously nurtures innovation, in the form of initiatives, events and activities unique to the Wellcome Genome Campus.
Martin Tomitsch, Chair of Design & Director of the Design Lab at the University of Sydney has been inspired by the programme, “I’ve been working with the students since the beginning of this journey and it has been extremely inspiring to see how the program has transformed their way of thinking and how they work as a group. The skills they are developing through this experience will be an invaluable foundation for their careers as entrepreneurs and innovators of the future.”
- Alongside the project the Møller Institute teaching team are delivering sessions on the following related areas:
- Personal leadership
- High performing teams
- Resilience
- Entrepreneurial mindset and innovation – Professor Tim Minshall, Professor of Innovation, Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge
- Leadership in a changing world – Lord Wilson of Dinton’s perspective and advice about leadership in complex times
- Communication & impact – practical tools and techniques inspired by the theatre – Caroline Rippin
Louise Giles, Programme Manager and Mark Carberry, Client Director of the Møller Institute have led the design of the programme and they told Møller News, “The partnership with the Wellcome Sanger Institute to deliver this programme for the University of Sydney is a classic example of the how the Møller Institute team uses its global convening power to bring together the most relevant academia and business thought-leaders, in this case, those at the forefront of innovation and leadership and to distil the insights into a practical and impactful executive education programme for these aspiring leaders. It has been an exciting project to work on and although this is our first programme with the University of Sydney we sincerely hope the venture will continually develop in the future.”
Jo Mills, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Centre Manager at the Wellcome Genome Campus added, “The field of genomics and biodata is flourishing and right now that is creating a great many new opportunities. As a consequence innovation is immensely important for both the Wellcome Sanger Institute and all of the organisations across the Wellcome Genome Campus. We’re delighted to be involved in this exciting project and to have talented students from the University of Sydney involved in developing our thinking as we look towards the future of our Campus.”