UNSW takes world-leading academic enrichment program to high schools

XPRIZE Connect is designed to inspire the next generation and crowdsource groundbreaking solutions. Now, with a new partnership with UNSW, school students across the state will be invited to take on the world’s most complex problems.  

UNSW Sydney has partnered with the non-profit XPRIZE Foundation to deliver a world-leading academic enrichment program to NSW high schools.

XPRIZE's mission is to encourage ‘radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity’ through public competitions. Its high school program – ‘XPRIZE Connect’ – invites students to think about the biggest challenges facing the world and guides them to develop prototypes or concepts to address those problems.

It’s a self-paced, modularised course offering an immersive learning experience to promote students’ deep understanding of complex issues and teach them techniques to solve them.

UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said he was thrilled to secure the exclusive deal – an Australian first – under which the University would offer the program to NSW schools and inspire the next generation of inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs.

“At UNSW we are passionate about ensuring that everyone – regardless of income, race, age, identity, gender, or geography – has access to transformative educational experiences that reflect their unique capabilities.

“We share XPRIZE’s belief that everyone is empowered by education and access to learning for all is fundamental to an inclusive and sustainable society,” Prof. Brungs said.

“The XPRIZE philosophy aligns perfectly with UNSW’s commitment to having an undergraduate community that is reflective of the broader Australian population and enabling access, participation, and graduate success for students from all equity cohorts, making a positive impact on society.”

Accelerating breakthroughs to create an equitable, abundant future for all

XPRIZE is a global leader in designing and operating large-scale innovation competitions to solve the most critical issues confronting humanity. Its domains include Climate & Energy, Deep Tech & Quantum and Space & Exploration.

The organisation created XPRIZE Connect knowing that one day these young people will face significant and complex problems across these fields.

Unlike other programs that focus solely on finding solutions, XPRIZE Connect asks students to think about what problem they’d most like to see solved.

Students work through a modularised curriculum and learn a range of skills – including how to present and communicate ideas and influence decision-makers – as they develop a pitch narrative for their topic. 

UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Education and Student Experience, Professor Sarah Maddison, said a large part of XPRIZE Connect’s appeal lay in its ability to empower young people to address major problems and connect to a global community of young people seeking to make a difference.

“XPRIZE Connect is unique in providing scaffolded learning that is both engaging and inspiring, and focusing on students’ agency to tackle issues that matter most to them and their future. It equips students with the confidence, skills and mindset to become changemakers,” Prof. Maddison said.

“Bringing this highly aspirational and student-centric program into schools can raise the ambition of the next generation to see their potential and help shape the world of tomorrow.”

The CEO of XPRIZE, Ms Anousheh Ansari, said UNSW was an obvious choice for the organisation’s first university partnership in Australia.

“UNSW has the number one engineering faculty in Australia and we need all kinds of engineers to solve the biggest problems in the world today.

“It’s also one of the world’s top research universities, and I know Prof. Brungs is absolutely passionate about positive societal impact and progress for everyone,” she said.

“By taking this program to high schools, and teaching students tools and techniques for better problem solving, we help them to think bigger about the big problems in the world. We’re also cultivating a great cohort of students, many of whom will be future university students.”