TESSI Down Under

Swinburne University - Lehigh University
Transformative Education for Sustainable Social Impact (TESSI) Institute

Dates: December 9 - 13, 2024
Location: Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (AGSE) Building, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Melbourne, Australia
Host: The Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship & School of Business, Law & Entrepreneurship
Number of Participants: 50
Costs: A fee of $250 AUD will be charged to cover workshop expenses and catering (morning and afternoon tea). Excludes lunch, travel and accommodation.
Sponsors: School of Business, Law & Entrepreneurship, Bruce Wong & Foot Solutions Australia, Reach for Your Future Foundation, HCI Holdings, Ramsay Health & the Human Rights Measurement Initiative."
Partners: Civika Asian Development Academy, Planetary Regeneration Lab.
Expectation: Participants be engaged in the entire week-long workshop.

Program Summary
The Transformative Education for Sustainable Social Impact (TESSI) Institute is a one-week interdisciplinary workshop designed to empower faculty, community, non-governmental organizations and other non-profit organization practitioners with the expertise and tools needed to reshape their courses, curricula and programs in response to global grand challenges. Rooted in the principles of creative inquiry and the praxis of Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship, the TESSI Institute offers educators and practitioners an innovative framework for crafting curricula/programs that engage students and communities in authentic, real-world projects, where they co-create innovative, practical, and sustainable solutions that address the needs of vulnerable populations and communities facing social, economic, and environmental challenges.

At the completion of workshop, participants will be capable in building toolkits for delivering sustainable impact, while preparing their students and/or organisations to identify problems, design solutions, develop business models, and leverage storytelling. This method places students and staff at the centre of the knowledge discovery process, using a “hands-on, hearts-on” approach to make meaning based on their lived experiences / professional expertise. Participants take radical ownership in their projects, while faculty and organisation mentors become partners and co-creators striving to propel their projects forward on the journey towards tangible, sustainable impact. Participants will become catalysts for transformative programs who foster a new generation of socially conscious leaders ready to tackle the complex challenges of our time. TESSI is envisioned as a week of inspiration, skills-building and network-building with a deep commitment to driving sustainable social impact programs.

TESSI Institute Certificates will be given to participants upon completion of this workshop. Participants are expected to deploy the tools and techniques in their universities and organisations and will be encouraged to join the pool of trainers to help teach future cohorts. Participants who complete the program will also become Asia Pacific Education Impact Fellows and join a growing network of TESSI Institute Alumni.

TESSI Institute - application link!

Apply Here

For Participants

The Transformative Education for Sustainable Social Impact (TESSI) Institute aims to deliver meaningful learning outcomes for workshop participants, focusing on transforming their educational approaches and fostering a commitment to sustainable social impact through community-engaged learning, research and entrepreneurial action.

The explicit goals of this institute include:

Understanding of Global Grand Challenges: Participants will gain a deep understanding of global grand challenges, including social, economic, and environmental issues, and their interconnectedness. They will explore various approaches to integrating global grand challenges into courses, research agenda, and service activities.
Creative Inquiry: Through a series of case studies and interactive workshops, faculty members will learn about creative inquiry and the praxis of humanitarian engineering and social entrepreneurship. They will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to apply these concepts in their courses.
Curriculum Design and Innovation: Participants will develop the ability to design innovative curricula that actively engage students in authentic, real-world projects. They will learn how to create educational experiences that empower students to work on practical solutions to challenges identified by community partners.
Problem Identification and Solution Design: Participants will gain experience in guiding students to identify complex problems and design effective, sustainable solutions. They will foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills in their students. There will be an emphasis on how faculty can right-size problems to challenge students while not overwhelming and paralyzing them.
Sustainable Business Model Development: Participants will acquire the knowledge and tools necessary to guide students in developing sustainable business models for their solutions. This includes understanding the principles of (social) entrepreneurship and environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
Storytelling for Impact: Faculty will explore the art of storytelling and its power in conveying the impact of their students' projects. They will be able to inspire and engage students, stakeholders, and social investors through compelling narratives.
Active Learning and Student Engagement: Faculty will learn how to implement a hands-on, hearts-on approach to teaching, making students active participants in the knowledge discovery process. They will foster student engagement and nudge students to take full ownership of their learning and their projects.
Mentorship and Co-Creation: Participants will understand the importance of becoming mentors and co-creators with their students, guiding them through project development and providing support and expertise in a just-in-time manner.
Sustainable Impact Assessment: Faculty members will develop skills in assessing the long-term, sustainable impact of projects and solutions. They will learn the fundamentals of how to measure and evaluate the outcomes of their educational approaches.
Network Building: The workshop will enable participants to build a network of like-minded educators, researchers, and experts in the field of impact-focused education. This network will serve as their community and sounding board for new ideas and initiatives. The facilitators will also connect them to other relevant networks such as IEEE SIGHT, EPICS in IEEE, etc. We are also inviting participants from the Philippines, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and other countries to share their experiences and join this network.
Commitment to Social Impact: Faculty members will leave the workshop with a commitment to fostering a new generation of socially conscious engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. They will explore how engineering is or can be as much of a care-giving profession.
Inspiration and Motivation: TESSI aims to inspire and motivate participants, leaving them with a sense of purpose and enthusiasm for their role in transforming education and addressing global grand challenges.

8-9 am Registration desk open. Tea/Coffee. AGSE building ground floor lobby area.
9-9:30 am Welcome to TESSI Down Under, TESSI Institute, introductions & housekeeping. AGSE Lecture Theatre Level 2.
9:30-10:15 am Indigenous Welcome to Country Ceremony. Walk to Indigenous Learning Circles (100m from AGSE Building). Aboriginal Elder ‘Uncle’ or ‘Aunty’ to conduct the ceremony. At the conclusion of the ceremony return to assemble in AGSE Lecture Theatre Level 2.
10:15-10:45 am Go.Do.Change by Jason Sargent. AGSE Lecture Theatre Level 2.
10:45-11:15 am Morning Tea. AGSE Foyer.
11:15-12:15 pm Khanjan Topic 1. AGSE Lecture Theatre.
12:15-12:30 pm. Wrap up the morning session and discuss lunch logistics and afternoon session info.
12:30-1:30 Lunch. Restaurants along Glenferrie and Burwood roads.
1:30-2:30 pm Khanjan Topic 2. AGSE Lecture Theatre.
2:30-3:30 pm Intro to Carbon Literacy Training (CLT) Certification Program by Dr. Chamilla Perera & Associate Professor Chandana Hewege.
3:30-4pm Afternoon Tea and mingle discussions AGSE Foyer.
4-4:30 pm Khanjan to discuss group project challenge proposal briefs/specs. Discuss rubric. Assign participants to their proposal groups. Jason to assign breakout rooms on AGSE Ground Floor for each group.
4:30-5:15 pm Groups move to breakout rooms to discuss ideas.
5:15-5:30 pm Reflection. Wrap up Day 1 and Discuss Day 2. AGSE Lecture Theatre.

8-8:30 am Arrive AGSE building ground floor lobby area.
(TESSI Next_Gen cohort to join us for the day. 10 high school students who will work with Bridgette Engeler and Elmer Soriano on a Planetary Regeneration Proposal presentation. The students will present as 2 teams at the end of the day. Parents invited)
8:30-8:50 am Movin’ and Groovin’ bonding activity with Jason. Start AGSE building ground floor lobby area and walk to Rocket Park (1 min away). Back by 9am.
9-10 am Khanjan Topic 3 AGSE Lecture Theatre Level 2.
10-10:45 am Yarn 1: David Spriggs & Elvis (Infoxchange, Ask Izzy App). Next_Gen to join us to listen and be inspired.
10:45-11:15 am Morning Tea. AGSE Foyer.
11:15-12:15 pm Future and Foresight Thinking Topic by Bridgette Engeler. AGSE Lecture Theatre.
12:15-12:30 pm. Wrap up the morning session. Discuss lunch logistics and afternoon session info.
12:30-1:30 Lunch. Restaurants along Glenferrie and Burwood roads.
1:30-2:15 pm Khanjan Topic 4. AGSE Lecture Theatre.
2:15-3:15 pm Teams work on proposals in break out rooms. AGSE Ground Floor.
3:15-3:45 pm Afternoon Tea and mingle discussions AGSE Foyer.
3:45-4:30 pm Yarn 2: Profs. Tom Spurling & John Webb (Social impact projects in Timor-Leste). AGSE Lecture Theatre.
4:45-5:15 pm TESSI Next_Gen teams present. AGSE Lecture Theatre.
5:15-5:30 pm Reflection. Wrap up Day 2 and discuss Day 3. AGSE Lecture Theatre.

8-8:30 am Arrive AGSE building ground floor lobby area.
8:30-8:50 am Across the river activity by Jason. AGSE building ground floor lobby area.
9-10 am Khanjan Topic 5. AGSE Lecture Theatre Level 2.
10-10:45 am Yarn 3: Liem Nguyen (Bennelong Foundation, Cultural Chameleon)
10:45-11:15 am Morning Tea. AGSE Foyer.
11:15-12:15 pm Planetary Regeneration Labs, Carbon Literacy Training Topic by Elmer Soriano, Chamila Perera and Chandana Hewege. AGSE Lecture Theatre.
12:15-12:30 pm. Wrap up the morning session. Discuss lunch logistics and afternoon session info.
12:30-1:30 pm Lunch. Restaurants along Glenferrie and Burwood roads.
1:30-3:30 pm Teams work on proposals in break out rooms. AGSE Ground Floor.
3:30-4 pm Afternoon Tea and mingle discussions AGSE Foyer.
4-5 pm Teams work on proposals in break out rooms. AGSE Ground Floor.
5-5:15 pm Reflection. Wrap up Day 3 and discuss Day 4. AGSE Lecture Theatre.

8-8:30 am Arrive AGSE building ground floor lobby area.
8:30-9:15 am Get on the balcony exercise run by Elmer. AGSE building ground floor lobby area.
9:15-10 am Khanjan Topic 6 AGSE Lecture Theatre.
10-10:45 am Yarn Profs. Katina Michael + Sandra Jones (Designing with, not for. Inclusivity, Empathy). AGSE Lecture Theatre.
10:45-11:15 am Morning Tea. AGSE Foyer.
11:15-12:15 pm Storytelling Topic by Carly Burns AGSE Lecture Theatre.
12:15-12:30 pm. Wrap up the morning session. Discuss lunch logistics and afternoon session info.
12:30-1:30 pm Lunch. Restaurants along Glenferrie and Burwood roads.
1:30-2:15 pm Yarn 5: Bwe Thay, Bruce Wong & Andrew Gai (Community Building). AGSE Lecture Theatre.
2:15-3:30 pm Teams work on proposals in break out rooms. AGSE Ground Floor.
3:30-4pm Afternoon Tea in AGSE Foyer and teams begin discussing draft presentations to receive feedback from panel. Teams continue working and presenting until 5:15 pm.
5:15-5:30 pm Reflection. Wrap up Day 4 and discuss Final Day. AGSE Lecture Theatre.

8-8:30 am Gather AGSE building ground floor lobby area.
8:30-9 am Confirm the proceedings for the day. AGSE building ground floor lobby area.
9-9:30 am Katina to share words on the journey to this point. AGSE Foyer.
9:30-9:45 am Introduction to judging panel members.
9:45-11 am Groups Present and receive feedback. AGSE Lecture Theatre.
11-11:30 am Morning Tea. AGSE Foyer.
11:30-1 pm Groups Present and receive feedback. AGSE Lecture Theatre.
1-2 pm Lunch. Restaurants along Glenferrie and Burwood roads.
2-3 pm “Say hello and wave goodbye” takeaway appreciation activity by Elmer. AGSE Foyer.
3-3:15 pm Asia Pacific Education Impact Fellowships by Elmer. AGSE Lecture Theatre.
3:15-4 pm TESSI Down Under Participation Certificates presented. AGSE Lecture Theatre.
4-4:30 pm Final Remarks by Jason & Khanjan. Gifts exchanged. AGSE Foyer.
4:30-5 pm Handing the TESSI Institute Baton to the next TESSI (TBA) organising committee . Khanjan. AGSE Foyer.
5pm Celebrations & Goodbyes! AGSE Foyer.

TESSI Institute Goals

The explicit goals of this institute include

Participants will gain a deep understanding of global grand challenges, including social, economic, and environmental issues, and their interconnectedness. They will explore various approaches to integrating global grand challenges into courses, research agenda, and service activities.

Through a series of case studies and interactive workshops, faculty members will learn about creative inquiry and the praxis of humanitarian engineering and social entrepreneurship. They will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to apply these concepts in their courses.

Participants will develop the ability to design innovative curricula that actively engage students in authentic, real-world projects. They will learn how to create educational experiences that empower students to work on practical solutions to challenges identified by community partners.

Participants will gain experience in guiding students to identify complex problems and design effective, sustainable solutions. They will foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills in their students. There will be an emphasis on how faculty can right-size problems to challenge students while not overwhelming and paralyzing them.

Participants will acquire the knowledge and tools necessary to guide students in developing sustainable business models for their solutions. This includes understanding the principles of (social) entrepreneurship and environmental, economic, and social sustainability.

Faculty will explore the art of storytelling and its power in conveying the impact of their students' projects. They will be able to inspire and engage students, stakeholders, and social investors through compelling narratives.

Faculty will learn how to implement a hands-on, hearts-on approach to teaching, making students active participants in the knowledge discovery process. They will foster student engagement and nudge students to take full ownership of their learning and their projects.

Participants will understand the importance of becoming mentors and co-creators with their students, guiding them through project development and providing support and expertise in a just-in-time manner.

Faculty members will develop skills in assessing the long-term, sustainable impact of projects and solutions. They will learn the fundamentals of how to measure and evaluate the outcomes of their educational approaches.

The workshop will enable participants to build a network of like-minded educators, researchers, and experts in the field of impact-focused education. This network will serve as their community and sounding board for new ideas and initiatives. The facilitators will also connect them to other relevant networks such as IEEE SIGHT, EPICS in IEEE, PIT UN, HIBAR Alliance etc..

Faculty members will leave the workshop with a commitment to fostering a new generation of socially conscious engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. They will explore how engineering is or can be as much of a care-giving profession.

TESSI aims to inspire and motivate participants, leaving them with a sense of purpose and enthusiasm for their role in transforming education and addressing global grand challenges.