James Cook University in Singapore Celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Design Sprint Challenge

10 years of Design Sprint: The Design Sprint Challenge is a two-day event held as part of the University's Design Thinking classes. This year, over 300 students from various programs studying Design Thinking modules went on a literal sprint to develop solutions and prototypes for real-world problems.

The Singapore campus of James Cook University is always working to nurture students who are innovative problem-solvers, equipping them with the skills to tackle real-world challenges through various initiatives. One such initiative is the Design Sprint Challenge, organised by the School of Science and Technology every trimester. The event sees students from various programs taking Design Thinking l, II and III as well as The Business School's BU2001 classes coming together to develop mentorship skills, collaborate and present their prototypes and demos to guests, lecturers, and fellow students. Solutions can take on various forms, such as software, apps, products or processes.

"In 2015, we started this event to provide a unique assessment for students in our Bachelor of Information Technology program. Today, it has expanded to include participants from the Bachelor of Cybersecurity and Bachelor of Business programs," says Associate Professor Roberto Dillon, Academic Head, Science and Technology.

"The event gives our students opportunities to engage with industry professionals, learn from each other, and gain insights that go beyond the classroom," adds Associate Professor Dillon.

This trimester's event, held on 12 and 13 August 2024, marks the 10th year of the Design Sprint Challenge. It saw over 300 students coming together on a literal sprint to address a variety of complex topics, pushing them to innovate and think critically. The students formed groups of five to eight to take on one of the following four themes:

・Presentation skills
Teams were tasked to develop solutions to help students become better speakers – that is, to enhance confidence, clarity and engagement in presentations.

・Team collaboration skills
This theme involved fostering effective team collaboration – to create a solution that empowers others to communicate effectively, share responsibilities and achieve common goals.

・Learning how to learn
In this challenge, teams had to investigate and address the issues that prevent or make it difficult for university students to engage in effective learning activities. They then had to develop a solution to help students overcome such challenges.

・Fostering cross-cultural communications
This theme prompted teams to investigate how to facilitate and enhance cross-cultural collaboration. Teams were tasked to research the barriers and opportunities in cross-cultural communication and teamwork, and develop a solution that helps individuals and organisations navigate cultural differences effectively.

Over the course of two days, students engaged in an intensive sprint to design innovative solutions and prototypes. On the first day, they interviewed "problem owners," or stakeholders, to understand the current challenges from their perspectives. These stakeholders included representatives and companies from diverse sectors that harness Infocomm Technology, such as sustainability, education and social services. After a full day of brainstorming and sketching their ideas, the students refined their prototypes and presented them to the problem owners the following day. Five winning teams were selected based on the clarity, innovation, and the quality of their prototypes.

"Over the past 10 years, the Design Sprint Challenge has grown into an important part of our Design Thinking curriculum, fostering creativity and collaboration among our students. It's inspiring to see how each cohort brings fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the table," says Professor Dillon.  

"I'd like to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of our lecturers. Our subject lecturer Michael Hansen, for example, has been instrumental in running the Design Sprint Challenge for the past seven years. We are also glad to have dedicated academic planning staff who have expertly managed the logistics behind the scenes," he adds.