Creating future-ready learners through an innovative digital transformation
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Creating future-ready learners through an innovative digital transformation WRITTEN BY
RACHAEL DAVIS PRODUCED BY
STUART IRVING
DECEMBER 2019
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SWINBURNE UNIVERSIT Y OF TECHNOLOGY
Universities create and stimulate great minds to do incredible things. Swinburne University of Technology is harnessing this energy in its innovative digital transformation, CIO Sean Elwick tells us
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oday’s students can forget the days of trawling through library book indexes for specific keywords and frantically
hand-writing notes in unengaging lecture halls. Technology is at the forefront of academia, from 04
the ways students consume information through e-learning portals and networks, to utilising virtual and augmented reality technologies as a part of everyday life. Sean Elwick, CIO at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, tells us of the institution’s ongoing digital transformation. Swinburne is in the world’s top 400 universities, according to the 2019 QS and Times Higher Education university rankings, and “has an international reputation for quality research that connects science and technology with business and the community.” Innovation runs through every aspect of the university, and its progressive agenda with an emphasis on the importance of utilising technology sets Swinburne apart from other institutions. DECEMBER 2019
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“ As an IT team, it is important that we have the basics right. Expectations are rising around how we take that next step” — Sean Elwick CIO, Swinburne University of Technology
DECEMBER 2019
Sean Elwick has only been CIO at Swinburne since September 2019, joining mid-way through a promising digital transformation backed by a progressive mindset with innovation at its core. The university’s 2025 strategy has three key pillars: innovative enterprise, future-ready learners, and research with impact, creating “confident and enterprising learners who create social impact”, with agile strategies at its core. User experience is at the forefront of the digital transformation led by
CLICK TO WATCH : ‘DATA FOR SOCIAL GOOD CLOUD INNOVATION CENTRE’ 07
Elwick. “In a B2C environment where
holds personalisation and individual-
your main audience is people who
ism at its centre. This includes the
are digitally native, you must be able
ever-changing way that students
to have that intuitive, sticky experi-
interact with learning tools.
ence,” he explains. “As an IT team, it is
Swinburne is beginning to harness
important that we get the basics right.
the potential of virtual reality (VR)
Expectations are rising around how
and augmented reality (AR) to take
we take that next step.”
the student experience to the next
Quality data management is an
level. In partnership with the Faculty
essential step in kickstarting that
of Health, Elwick’s team is piloting
great user experience. Ensuring they
an AR scheme with first-year health
are collecting the right data and using
students on anatomy programmes,
it in the right way is integral, particu-
where instead of having a physical
larly in a technological society which
cadaver to study, they can examine w w w.swi nburne . ed u . a u
SWINBURNE UNIVERSIT Y OF TECHNOLOGY
one virtually through AR and life-size
students will have access to Adobe
touchscreen displays. “There are
Creative Cloud – a collection of the
many implications of having a cadaver
world’s best applications and services
on site,” says Elwick. “We’re exploring
used for graphic design, video editing,
using augmented reality, so a body
web development and photography.
can be scanned and then students
As an Adobe Creative Campus,
can study it in the virtual world.” Swinburne has partnerships with
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Swinburne is now more poised than ever to create future-ready learn-
leading tech companies, most notably
ers. “It’s not just about the academic
Adobe and Canvas. The university
qualifications, but about being able
is the first Adobe Creative Campus
to navigate today’s dynamic world
in Australia, and one of only 20
with digital literacy,” explains Elwick.
worldwide. This status means that,
“Students can experiment with differ-
from November 2019, all Swinburne
ent skills that are essential
DECEMBER 2019
for today’s work, and the work of
“ Students can experiment with different skills that are essential for today’s work, and the work of the future” — Sean Elwick CIO, Swinburne University of Technology
the future.” Additionally, by transitioning from Blackboard to Canvas as their learning management platform, students can access content across any connected device. Canvas supports group work and collaboration, and is “a very modern platform for us to go forward with,” believes Elwick. Swinburne also has its own Digital Transformation Centre, the first of its kind in Australia. In partnership with DXC Technology, the world’s
E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE
Sean Elwick Sean is the Chief Information Officer at Swinburne University of Technology. He is a strategic, collaborative and resultsorientated business executive who has successfully orchestrated and delivered lasting change to Australian and international organisations. Sean has provided strategic and tactical solutions while operating as a global CIO since 2012, sits easily with leadership positions held within ‘Big 4’ consulting organisations and has a career that spans 20 years, including owning and running a consulting practice. He is passionate about #modernIT and the benefits that can be leveraged for an organisation, and is often called upon as a thought leader.
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SWINBURNE UNIVERSIT Y OF TECHNOLOGY
visit thinkfwd.com.au
Smarter performance drives ambition
“It’s not just about the academic qualifications, but about being able to navigate today’s dynamic world with digital literacy” — Sean Elwick CIO, Swinburne University of Technology
11 leading independent, end-to-end IT
Venture Cup, now in its 20th year. The
services company, the DXC Digital
prize is AU$20,000 in funding for the
Transformation Centre at Swinburne
most exciting startup that addresses
“allows for collaboration between
an unmet need for its target audi-
DXC, ourselves, the government and
ence. Along the way, entrants receive
industries,” affirms Elwick. It not only
bespoke coaching from successful
provides opportunities to students in
founders, including pitching work-
creating a talent pool prime for intern-
shops; 2019’s winning startup, Project
ships and jobs post-graduation, but
Milk, has developed a new breast
also to local businesses and startups
pump design that will improve mothers’
who are offered smart ways to get
experience of expressing breast milk.
competitive on a global scale. As part of its engagement with
Recognising that “innovation occurs when divergent concepts
startups and the future of innova-
come together to form a solu-
tive tech, Swinburne presents the
tion,” Swinburne has created the w w w.swi nburne . ed u . a u
SWINBURNE UNIVERSIT Y OF TECHNOLOGY
1908
Year established
19,000+ Number of undergraduates
3,000+ 12
Number of postgraduates
DECEMBER 2019
Innovation Precinct. The university utilises its strong industry ties, rigorous research capabilities and agile approach to change, and has produced “an innovation ecosystem that supports ideas both big and small”. The precinct’s three pillars of innovation are Design Factory Melbourne, Factory of the Future, and the Digital Innovation Lab – each contributing to a platform for research and experimentation which promotes software engineering competency, virtual reality learning, and “a hub for engaging manufacturing businesses, undergraduate and high school students, alumni and the wider community.” Swinburne has already achieved so much in its digital transformation. Using its expertise in industry 4.0 technology, social impact and design thinking, the university has created an inspiring, innovative environment for students, staff, alumni and the community to develop future-proof skills in technology. “Technology is in our DNA,” said Elwick. “Swinburne University of Technology wants to be known for its innovative tech, and for me that’s w w w.swi nburne . ed u . a u
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SWINBURNE UNIVERSIT Y OF TECHNOLOGY
“ Celebrate your mistakes, as you learn as much from them as your successes” 14
— Sean Elwick CIO, Swinburne University of Technology
about setting the bar high and thinking ‘what can we achieve?’.” Curiosity is key to Elwick’s strategy. In encouraging a change of mindset among his peers and colleagues, guiding his team to “just imagine” the future of the IT culture at Swinburne University, he encourages them to open their minds to risk-taking in order to achieve the end goal of a transformed, uplifted IT culture in partnership with the university. While there are increasing demands and
DECEMBER 2019
increasing expectations from IT, Elwick maintains that it is important to “celebrate your mistakes, as you learn as much from them as your successes,” and to ‘Just Imagine’ what can be achieved through a transformed IT culture. During his tenure as CIO, Elwick wants to enable “an outstanding digital experience for our students and staff through our university strategy.” With his agile, thoughtful and curious approach, and a strong springboard created by his peers and predecessors, Swinburne University is primed to create future-ready learners, inspire innovative ideas, and ultimately deliver a “digital ‘wow’ experience.”
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Swinburne University of Technology John Street Hawthorne Victoria 3122 Australia T +61 3 9214 8444 www.swinburne.edu.au