Some of the world’s most innovative higher education minds will shortly gather in Brisbane for the Times Higher Education (THE) 2017 Young Universities Summit from 5-7 April at QUT, with an agenda geared towards the role universities can play in an increasingly challenging world.
QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake said in the lead-up to the summit that a series of workshops would feature those at the forefront of developing disruptive technologies and business models.
Entrepreneurship: the new graduate destination is scheduled for Monday 3 April. Bill Aulet, managing director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship will give the keynote address and other speakers include Mark Sowerby, Queensland’s Chief Entrepreneur and founder of Blue Sky Alternative Investments Ltd, and Leanne Kemp, CEO of Everledger who has developed technology to track and protect diamonds and other luxury goods.
The workshop will be facilitated by QUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Commercialisation, Professor Arun Sharma and also features Dr Brian Subirana, Director of the MIT Auto-ID Lab which researches new Internet of Things technologies.
Professor Coaldrake said this strong focus on entrepreneurship reflected the historically high number of students, graduates and entrepreneurs creating their own businesses.
Other pre-summit workshops will cover how big data is transforming university business, accelerating gender diversity in STEM, harnessing technology to connect to students, community and industry, and preparing graduates for the careers of the future.
“This is the first time the Young Universities Summit has been held in the Southern Hemisphere and QUT is honoured to have been chosen as host,” Professor Coaldrake said.
The 2017 THE 150 under 50 Rankings, which rate ‘young’ universities worldwide, will be launched exclusively at the Summit on Wednesday 5 April.
Professor Coaldrake said the theme of the 2017 Summit was ‘Disruptive, Dynamic, Distinctive: young universities rising to the challenges of tomorrow’.
“This theme aligns very well with the approach QUT takes to education, research and industry engagement,” he said.
“What younger universities like QUT may lack in years they more than make up for by seeking to be entrepreneurial, business-like and ambitious; able to embrace a global outlook.”
Professor Coaldrake said the 2017 THE Young Universities Summit brought together representatives from the world’s best young universities.
“The Summit program has a stellar line up of speakers from leading universities and multinational corporations. They will discuss diverse topics, including future challenges, diversity in leadership, new models of collaboration and the integration of STEM and creativity,” Professor Coaldrake said.
More information on the Times Higher Education (THE) 2017 Young Universities Summit, pre-summit workshops, ticket prices, and how to register is available online.
QUT is part of a national collaborative group of five major Australian universities that form the ATN (Australian Technology Network of Universities).
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 9449, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
