Bridging Academia and Industry:
QUT’s Future Enterprise Class Partners with State Library of Queensland
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, preparing students for the future of work requires more than traditional classroom teachings. Recognising this need, ICB Director, Gemma Alker, in partnership with Centre for Future Enterprise Chief Investigator, Associate Professor Paula Dootson, pioneered an award-winning initiative. This initiative, known as the Classroom to Boardroom program, seamlessly integrates academia with real-world industry challenges, providing students with invaluable experiential learning opportunities. This semester, the State Library of Queensland (SLQ) has joined forces with QUT’s Future Enterprise class, inspiring over 1500 students to tackle a pressing question: How might technology revolutionise the utilisation of library spaces to deliver enhanced value to communities?
Unveiling Future Enterprise Unit – BSB 105
At the heart of this initiative lies the Future Enterprise Unit, BSB105, a core business unit offered at QUT. Designed to equip students with the skills and mindset required to navigate the complexities of the contemporary workplace, BSB105 immerses students in a dynamic learning environment. Through a blend of real-world case studies, environmental sensing, scenario planning, and exposure to megatrends shaping the business landscape, students are empowered to cultivate resilience and agility essential for success in their future careers.
Classroom to Boardroom Strategy
Under the leadership of A/Prof. Paula Dootson, the Classroom to Boardroom initiative, developed as a connected partnership strategy of the unit, has emerged as a transformative model for industry engagement within the classroom. Rooted in the principles of work-integrated learning, this strategy bridges the gap between theory and practice, fostering meaningful collaborations between students and leading industry stakeholders. Through this immersive experience, students are tasked with developing innovative solutions to real-world digital transformation challenges faced by renowned organisations, including Opera Queensland, Southbank Corporation, and now, the State Library of Queensland.
The SLQ Partnership: Reimagining Library Spaces with Technology
In this partnership, State Library of Queensland has joined the Classroom to Boardroom program, presenting QUT students with a compelling challenge: to harness the power of technology in reimagining library spaces to better serve and enrich local communities. Led by Vicki McDonald AM, the State Librarian and CEO of SLQ, this initiative underscores the library’s commitment to innovation and community-centric solutions. With 1500 students poised to tackle this challenge, the SLQ stands to benefit from a diverse array of perspectives and fresh insights, paving the way for transformative change within library spaces.
Highlights from the Classroom
- Week One: CEO and State Librarian Vicki McDonald AM presented students with provocation
- Week Nine: State Library of Queensland executives Vicki McDonald AM CEO and State Librarian, Anna Raunik, Executive Director – Content Development, and Louise Denoon, Executive Director – Public Libraries and Engagement, engaged in a fireside chat with A/Prof Paula Dootson answering student questions on business viability of innovation
- Week Ten: Terry Weber and Ian Hawkins from Cisco presented a technology feasibility guest lecture on embedding technology to create new value for spaces and precincts
- End of Semester: Five student teams (a 6th team presented via video) ‘pitched’ their solutions to State Library of Queensland CEO and senior executives, and Cisco State Manager gaining real-world feedback from ‘the boardroom’. Our students delivered a range of creative solutions, including children’s eSports sessions and tournaments to develop STEM skills, a digitally transformed space using 3D projections, holograms, and sound enhancement for a new way of learning and discovery, programs to reduce social isolation and loneliness in seniors by capturing, digitizing, and sharing their life experiences with the community.
Impact and Successes
The impact of the Classroom to Boardroom programme extends far beyond the confines of the classroom. To date, this innovative model has empowered thousands of undergraduate and postgraduate students to engage with industry leaders, gaining invaluable work experience and forging meaningful connections. Moreover, industry partners have reaped substantial benefits, from access to top-tier talent and researchers to the development of innovative solutions tailored to their specific needs. With 82% of students reporting enhanced career-relevant skills, and numerous industry partners investing in further engagement, the success of this initiative speaks volumes about its effectiveness in bridging academia and industry.
As the Future Enterprise class embarks on its latest collaboration with the State Library of Queensland, the stage is set for yet another semester of innovation and collaboration. By harnessing the collective expertise of students and industry partners, QUT continues to redefine the boundaries of experiential learning, preparing students to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of the future workplace. Through initiatives like the Classroom to Boardroom program, QUT remains at the forefront of educational innovation, driving positive change and empowering the leaders of tomorrow.
