The University of South Australia and a global micromobility company co-launched the ‘Future Scooter Lab’ educational initiative, offering students hands-on learning aimed at shaping the future of Australia’s micromobility industry. The Future Scooter Lab allows tertiary students to engage with the real-world challenges of the micromobility industry via a research project, with the tech firm providing industry problem statements that UniSA students will solve as part of their coursework.
Students from the undergraduate Bachelor of Design, Product Design and postgraduate Master of Design (Industrial Design specialisation) Programs at UniSA will engage in research to investigate personal transport and mobility systems, identifying trends and opportunities for future vehicle design.
The students will then develop their research into a design brief, which they execute using an iterative design process. The final device and system aim to address key tactical issues in the industry and identify future opportunities for growth.
As part of Future Scooter Lab, students will receive feedback on their work from Beam’s product and operational teams and have access to Beam’s data and resources to ensure real-world relevance to their work.
The Future Scooter Lab includes:
- Practical tours and hands-on demonstrations at Beam’s warehouses
- Guest lectures from Beam’s product, operations and strategy managers on the industry, its growth and opportunities, and challenges
- The ability for students to design or contribute to the next generation of e-mobility devices, incorporating real-world applications
The General Manager (ANZ) of the tech firm stated that the shared micromobility industry has progressed quickly since it was first introduced to Australia in 2018, with great advances in geofencing technology, AI and machine learning that have made it possible for the industry to scale as quickly as it has.
He noted that as the industry continues to grow, it’s vital that local talent is educated and nurtured to be able to take on the new challenges of micromobility as we work to make an impact on congestion in local cities.
The Future Scooter Lab is an opportunity for tertiary students studying relevant subjects such as engineering and industrial design to find out more about a new but rapidly changing industry and understand the real-world implications that their work will have when they graduate, he said.
He added, “We also learn from the students, just as much as they learn from us, with the students providing insights from their research process that we then incorporate into our operations strategies.”
Meanwhile, the Program Director: Bachelor of Design at UniSA stated that the project presents an outstanding opportunity for the Product and Industrial Design students at UniSA. Working on real projects that can have real-world impact is something that we aim to facilitate for the students, and UniSA is thrilled to be able to work closely with a global company.
Recently, students worked on mobility projects that involved solar cars and future buses, so the micromobility project with the tech firm fits nicely with our previous projects, designing how cities of the future can facilitate accessible mobility for all.
It is exciting to be part of the Future Scooter Lab, he said, and this will benefit both the Product and Industrial Design students and staff with opportunities to work on real future mobility challenges with real-world outcomes.
The nation is keen to ramp up its capabilities and become globally competitive across sectors. One area of interest is healthcare. Australia’s health system faces many challenges, including an ageing population, increasing consumer expectations and continuing pressures on Australia’s health workforce.
In the face of these challenges, digital health is transforming the way that many patients manage their health and experience healthcare and driving a step change in the delivery of health services. Its Capability Action Plan is designed to support Australia’s health workforce to continue to develop the skills needed to deliver the best care for Australians in a digital world.
