CQUni changemaker students set to inspire for global summit
Three CQUniversity students are sharing their insight into the future for Environment' Social and Governance (ESG) changemaking' presenting at the virtual Next Impact Conference 2021.
The international thought-leadership event will be held on Thursday 28 October' and is hosted by the Stanford Social Innovation Review' the Korea National Council on Social Welfare' Chosun Media and Hanyang University.
Students Ashlyn Forsaith' Santiago Mills and Abeshek Nadarajah are presenting on a Gen Z Changemakers Panel for the event' as part of CQUniversity's role as an ecosystem partner of Next Impact' and Ashoka U Changemaker University.
The three passionate students will share their experience of social impact projects at CQUniversity and in their communities.
The trio hope to call on governments and corporations to grow commitment to and education about ESG issues' and highlight how CQUniversity's social innovation education is leading the charge.
"Australia needs local governments' corporate companies' organisations' and management leaders to support young people in the ESG movement so we can use our innovation' creativity and sense of social justice to pave the way forward and find solutions to these issues'" Ashlyn said.
Cairns student Santiago Mills is studying a Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours)' and says his Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage drives his determination to create change in his career.
"My future goal is to complete my degree and return to the islands to boost the economy by using innovative building techniques to improve infrastructure and the quality of life for the community'" he said.
A Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) student in Rockhampton' Abeshek Nadarahah has worked as a CQUniversity Change Champion' leading events and strategies to inspire changemaking for students.
Abeshek hopes his social innovation skills will boost his health sector career' and the impact he can make for patients and communities.
"My goal is to help create a better tomorrow by looking for ways to put my knowledge and teamwork skills to help solve issues faced by society'" Abeshek said.
Ashlyn' a third-year Bachelor of Education student in Brisbane' hopes her passion will inspire the next generation' too.
"I want to ignite an interest in social issues that both interest and concern my future students' and encourage them to use empathy' design' and creativity to… find real solutions to social issues and make a difference'" she said.
Last month' CQUniversity mapped its next steps for delivering social innovation education' with an Australian-first strategy to inspire the next generation of social change leaders.
The new Social Innovation Education Strategy (2021-2023) will see every graduate equipped to make social impact in their careers and communities' and was recently endorsed by CQUni's Academic Board.
It builds on more than five years of work to embed social innovation across CQUniversity operations. Social impact education leader Ashoka U recognised that work in 2017' naming CQUniversity as a Changemaker University' one of just 51 institutions globally.
Learn more about social innovation at CQUniversity here.
