Thanks to a Victorian Government program, more than 170 technology students used their summer break to get hands-on experience while also helping Victorian businesses solve real-world tech challenges.
The highly successful SummerTech LIVE program operates as a paid 10–12-week studentship during the summer break. Students and graduates receive $5,000 each for their participation and the program is delivered at no cost to businesses.
The program has matched more than 500 students with 290 Victorian businesses since it began in 2017.
Last year, the Victorian Government announced it would inject a further $2.5 million over two years, allowing even more students to kickstart their digital careers, while also providing much-needed digital skills to Victorian businesses.
On 18 April, students and employers presented their projects at a showcase event, sharing their learnings and achievements.
Devender Kumar, an RMIT Master of AI graduate, and Zhi Hern Tom, a University of Melbourne Master of Data Science student were matched to work on Jane's Weather, an app that provides weather predictions for Australian farmers and businesses.
Using their knowledge of AI and machine learning, the students improved the accuracy of the app's forecasting model by combining big data from weather stations with local weather observations.
For farmers, these insights can significantly affect their business decisions, such as when to spray crops, how to manage frost, or even how to mitigate the effects of floods in the future.
Besides supporting students to gain vital professional skills and build their networks, SummerTech LIVE is also focused on increasing cyber security by connecting businesses with a workforce that can develop solutions and tackle constant threats head-on.
SummerTech LIVE is delivered on behalf of the Victorian Government by the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). The next round of SummerTech LIVE is expected to open later this year.
