Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) has established a partnership with Western Sydney University to foster innovation and create job opportunities in the region.
Under the new partnership, 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,” Mr Hickey said.
“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 enabling the WSI to work with young talent.
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.
Mr Hickey announced the initiative at the Canterbury-Bankstown Business Chamber Business After 5 event 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,” Mr Hickey 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.
Executive Director, Enterprise at Western Sydney University, Don Wright, 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,” Mr Wright said.
“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 2023, with the intention to increase student participation and expand it across other professions at WSI.
