The sky’s the limit for JCU IT students

The Sprint will be held by the JCU IT Academy (IT@JCU) in partnership with Townsville Airport and its parent company Queensland Airports Limited who have been integral in the organisation of this inaugural event.

As part of their studies, the first and second year students will work in groups of six to solve one of three business cases, or opportunities.

Associate Professor Dr Trina Myers, Head of Information Technology at JCU said the Sprint focuses on solutions to real world business opportunities that the Townsville Airport is looking to solve.

“These include exploring the use of technologies such as Big Data, mobile devices and Internet of Things to improve efficiencies, attract patronage and automate procedures at the Airport,” she said.

Each group is assigned to a particular challenge, working with a number of IT industry representatives to design innovative, technology-based solutions.

They will conduct interviews with various Airport staff and personnel and are encouraged to think ‘outside the box’.

Prizes sponsored by QLD Airports Limited, Dell and the Australian Computer Society will be awarded by industry judges at the end of the second day.

Dr Myers said there were three design-thinking subjects offered at JCU as part of the Bachelor of Information Technology. These subjects build skills in modern software design practice that centres around the users of technology and problem solving. The work that the students complete in the two day sprints are assessed as a component of these subjects.

“Each year the opportunities increase in difficulty, depending on the students’ year level. We have students from different years working together so the second year students are also acting as leaders in their groups.”

Townsville Airport Chief Operating Officer Kevin Gill said the airport was delighted to host the students.

“We are pleased to provide not only the location to hold this event but also play a key role in the development of these opportunities for students to work with,” he said.

“This event is the culmination of a number of months of collaborative work between Townsville Airport and JCU.

“We look forward to learning of the innovative solutions the participating teams come up with.”

Associate Professor Myers said it would be a fun project although very intense as they only have two days to solve the problem.

Townsville Airport will continue to operate as normal during the event.

Event sponsors include QLD Airports and partners, Optus (major sponsors), CommBank, Coca-Cola/Amitel, Australian Computer Society who, importantly, were there for the two days as mentors for the students.