“I learned technology is not an impediment to innovation. You don’t need fanatic coding. You need a willingness to dream and persevere.” — winning team member, Shrikriti Singh

‍Study Melbourne Global Game Changers, Powered by HEX was an event of epic proportions. A 12-day online hackathon, with registrants logging on from 7 different countries, working in teams with strangers, to create a tech project inspired by Victoria. 

The Victorian Government established Study Melbourne to boost the experience of international students through year-round free events, programs, and support services. So, it’s really no surprise that HEX and Study Melbourne partnered once more to deliver this free program for current and recent international students.

HEX and Study Melbourne have already run two Future Founders Festival hackathons together, awarded tens-of-thousands in HEX scholarships to winners of Study Melbourne programs, and HEX’s very own Community Engagement Officer, Ashwin Chhaperia, is a two-time Study Melbourne alum! 

Although Study Melbourne Global Game Changers, Powered by HEX had a tech focus, it wasn’t only for tech students. Workshops were designed for a multidisciplinary cohort, including: 

• Low-Code/No-Code Tools
• Building Your First Augmented Reality App, and 
• Innovation Thinking. 

Students heard from speakers at Atlassian, Stripe, LaunchVic, Startup Victoria, and of course, HEX, and accessed mentoring from industry legends at Atlassian, Seek, Canva, IBM, Ernst & Young and a range of Aussie startups.

Let’s chat to the winners…

Winning team members, Shrikriti Singh and Rajeev Raina, shared a little about their experience on the program and how they developed their app, SLIM (Student Life In Melbourne)…

HEX: Why did you choose to join Study Melbourne Global Game Changers?

Shrikriti: Being an introvert, I have forever found it difficult to open up, interact and convey my ideas when faced with a group of people. 

However, after seeing this program posted on LinkedIn, I told myself that this is the place that is going to change things. I was clueless about what [the program] was about. All I knew was that if I give myself a choice, I'll never do it. I was extremely fascinated by the ideas that were highlighted during the workshops, and that was probably what helped me stick with it.

HEX: And what about you, Rajeev? Why did you join the program?

Rajeev: The chance to take part in this virtual hackathon to create a technology-powered project inspired by Victoria, Australia, was both exciting and daunting. The theme 'Connecting with Victoria' in particular was so motivating that I felt compelled to participate and contribute. 

HEX: How / why did you come up with your project, SLIM (Student Life In Melbourne)?

Shrikriti: All of our teammates had been students at Universities in Melbourne, and thus shared some common problems they had faced. And when we started interacting with more students through online forums, we found that these problems were shared by a much larger audience. Hence, we knew student life had to be the focus of our project.

Rajeev: My own experience as an international student in Melbourne, Australia, motivated me to find a solution to a well-known problem among students: there is no standardised digital platform for international students to access information.

Shrikriti: The problems were ones that anyone could guess: finding information about student discounts, budget accommodation, cafes, events around the area, and so on. Access [to this information] is distributed across multiple platforms, forums, channels of information, and word of mouth. So, why not bring it all to one place? And that's exactly what we did. 

My learning here is that you don't always have to come up with something entirely out of the box. The problems facing us are right before us, and so are the solutions. 

HEX: Do you have any advice for international students studying in Victoria?

Rajeev: Take part in activities! Participate in as many campus activities as possible and make new acquaintances. Of course, your primary objective is to study and do your best to achieve good results, but don't forget to enjoy life outside of the classroom as well. Australia's great education system, as well as the state of Victoria's, has a lot to offer, and all students should take advantage of every opportunity. 

My personal favourite was spending valuable time at the State Library Victoria, which was near my university. Going for long walks around the Docklands area also kept me focused on living a healthy lifestyle.

Shrikriti: Leaving behind your family, homeland, and comforts to venture out solely with dreams and aspirations all by yourself is not an easy task. Always remember you are in your own hands on this journey. Meet new people, make friends, know their stories, and get inspired. But at the end of the day, come back and ask yourself what you accomplished today. It's never too late to make amends, never too late to start over. Don't be afraid to fall.

HEX: What are your future goals, in Australia and abroad?

Rajeev: I intend to enrol in another master's degree next year to further upgrade my knowledge, with the goal of eventually enrolling in a PhD program. Finally, I want to work as a teacher; to give back to society. Teaching is the most effective and well-established way to do that. I plan to continue my education in Australia or New Zealand and pursue a career as a university professor.

Shrikriti: I am currently giving myself time to explore all that is on offer. Being involved in multiple activities across finance, technology, design and research, and with hobbies in writing, volunteering, poetry, and music, it is a tough choice to commit to one.

For the short term, I aim to pursue a postgrad online from a foreign university, explore my interests and try a number of things before I settle for one. I want to build a strong portfolio of experiences and accomplishments, both personal and professional. 

HEX: What are your biggest challenges at the moment?

Shrikriti: Like any other student, I have challenges like financial independence, being a good leader, and time management. However the biggest challenges I face currently are entirely personal: overcoming my self-imposed inhibitions, and understanding and interpreting the difference between inspiration and distractions. I tend to panic a lot and run away from anything that is new. I'm determined to overcome this — to become more accepting of criticism and constructive feedback. I understand that it is me, and only me, who can help me overcome these. 

Rajeev: My family and I relocated from Kashmir owing to an ongoing feud and rising terrorism in the state, and we lost everything there before making a new start in Delhi, India. The path has always been full of ups and downs, but I have persisted in obtaining an education, even if it takes some time. I was dismayed to find that there are currently no government supported programs or funds available for people who have migrated from Kashmir to pursue higher education. I am hopeful Australia or New Zealand may offer compassionate grants so that I can pursue my desire of further education.

HEX: Who would you like to connect with to achieve your goals?

Rajeev: I would like to connect with research supervisors from top universities in Australia and New Zealand in the fields of Agile, Digital Technology, and Product Development. I’m also keen to hear about opportunities for scholarships and financial aid in terms of work while pursuing a PhD.

Shrikriti: I'm in touch with a few mentors [from the program] and am sure that they're going to be the ones I reach out to for any technical support or ideas, feasibility assessment, or maybe just a dose of motivation.  

The new things I became aware of are enough to keep me engaged for the next 3-4 months. I do see myself starting something of my own. And with the motivation I have today, I'm sure that's going to be pretty soon.

I'll be really happy if I get to be involved and updated about all the happenings here at HEX. Honestly, these 2 weeks were the best part of my journey so far, and I'm deeply thankful to HEX for all that it has given me.