Showcasing the next generation of Deakin IT graduates

Held in early October at Deakin’s Melbourne Burwood Campus, the event featured 23 solutions students developed for clients, including mobile, web and software applications, virtual reality experiences, video games, cybersecurity solutions and more.

Around 40 guests, including industry representatives, were able to engage with the innovative software, tools and technology designed and built by senior Deakin IT undergraduate students.

Dr Greg Bowtell, a lecturer from Deakin’s School of IT, co-chaired the capstone program with Dr Mohamed Abdelrazek and organised the event.

‘Showcases are a great way for students to demonstrate their capabilities to a wider audience than just their peers and teaching staff, so we wanted to provide that opportunity for our final-year IT students,’ Dr Bowtell explains.

‘It’s also vital that our students are able to communicate and promote their work and themselves to that wider audience. Networking has never been more important and we hope our guests enjoyed the calibre of work our students have produced.’

Dr Bowtell says student teams spent six months developing a solution for a project sourced from an external, typically industry-based, client.

‘Many of our students’ clients are based in small organisations. Having hands-on time with them and solving complex – and often ill-defined – problems is excellent preparation for new graduates.

‘While many students are destined for graduate roles with large firms, a growing number of students will find opportunities in SMEs and start-ups, sometimes directly through these capstone projects.

‘The realistic experience and adaptability that students gain from this experience is highly valuable in a changing employment market.’

Visit the event website to read more about the Circuit ’17 projects.