Tech giants open doors to Hack-a-thon winners

Tech giants open doors to Hack-a-thon winners

A creative solution to facilitating remote and rural learning saw five students win the tech trip of a lifetime to the mecca of start-ups and innovation, San Francisco.

Taking in tech luminaries such as Amazon Go, Google, Facebook, Uber and Intel, and start-up The Antipodean, the study tour followed the team’s winning entry in the 2019 Hack-a-thon challenge.

The 24-hour design sprint event challenged 130 multi-disciplinary students to work together to test their problem-solving skills in response to the theme, ‘Connected Communities’, focused on creating equality in education around the globe.

The winning team Boxby created a router-like platform that could provide rural and disconnected communities with easy access to education data without an internet connection.

Their solution saw the students granted unparalleled access to industry experience and connections during the study tour, facilitated by RMIT and industry partner Capgemini.

Capgemini Australia and New Zealand Vice President Amit Singhania said: “We live the RMIT University mantra of ready for life and work in our partnership, so it was without hesitation that we leveraged our industry connections to provide unprecedented access to tech giants in the heart of Silicon Valley for the winners as part of our Hack-a-thon sponsorship.” 

RMIT students visit Google offices in San Franciso RMIT students visit Google offices in San Franciso

Trip highlights included meeting lead designers for ‘Google Home’ to hear how they developed the product for market and taking part in an exclusive Q&A session with Uber’s lead engineers, including RMIT alumnus Ed Barwani.

Getting an inside view of the industry, and understanding how their skills could translate into jobs, provided a unique learning opportunity for the Bachelor of Computer Science students James Ng, Thang Pham, Isaac Keleher, Jia Jun Yong and Blaise Saunders.

“I’d never been to America, so that was amazing, and it provided us with so many opportunities to network, see what jobs are out there and plan for our future careers,” Saunders said.

“Listening to each presentation also drove home that personal branding and how you pitch yourself are key to career progression.” 

RMIT students and staff at start-up The Antipodean RMIT students and staff at start-up The Antipodean

Ng said the trip provided an opportunity to gain awareness about what your real strengths were while Pham came away with a greater understanding of the US start-up industry and insight into future trending technologies.

For Yong, learning what it took to work at companies such as Facebook, Google and Intel were highlights while Amazon Go made a big impression.

“I was amazed by how seamless and accurate the Amazon Go checkout process was; this is truly the future of retail,” Yong said.

Keleher had always dreamed of visiting San Francisco, where he was particularly impressed by one tech giant. 

“We learned Facebook regularly hold internal hackathons and have free food and a laundry service to maximise employee productivity," he said.

Saunders summed up the trip.

“It gave us so much to think about and I’m still processing what we learned and figuring out how to implement it into my career," he said.

 

Story by: Diana Robertson

30 March 2020

Share

30 March 2020

Share

  • Student experience
  • Science and technology
  • Industry
  • Future World of Work
Engage

Related News

news-energy-smart-bricks-different-colours-1220px.jpg

Energy-smart bricks keep waste out of landfill

Engineers have invented energy-efficient bricks with scrap materials, including glass, that are normally destined for landfill.

AppleFoundationProgramFacilityLaunch.png

RMIT opens $1M learning space dedicated to Apple Foundation Program at City Campus

New learning space dedicated to the Apple Foundation Program at RMIT now open to teach technology skills for jobs of the future.

ACSNanoCoverthumbnail.jpg

Silicon spikes take out 96% of virus particles

An international research team led by RMIT University has designed and manufactured a virus-killing surface that could help control disease spread in hospitals, labs and other high-risk environments.

chatgpt-ai-1220x732.jpg

Aussies in denial about impacts of generative AI

A new report reveals Australians lack a crucial understanding of the extent generative AI is expected to disrupt their roles.

Show more
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

More information