Global fintech leader empowers innovation

^{Students taking part in the Airwallex Transaction Detective Challenge.}

Thanks to the support of financial technology platform Airwallex, students at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT) are being empowered to understand how they can play a significant role in the world through entrepreneurship and innovation.

The Airwallex Tech Innovation Program is now underway following a generous donation by the company co-founded in 2015 by University of Melbourne alumni.

It supplements a highly successful suite of Airwallex-funded initiatives for FEIT students and alumni.

Established in 2022, the full program of support has so far awarded 43 scholarships, each valued at $30,000, which include participation in the Airwallex industry mentoring program. It has also supported 65 students through a $150,000 fund for those experiencing financial hardship and delivered a range of initiatives to foster innovation — from hackathons and student club sponsorships to internships, awards and enhanced facilities.

Empowering innovation: Airwallex's impact on the University of Melbourne tech ecosystem

Professor Eun-Jung Holden, a key figure in the development of the Airwallex Tech Innovation Program, is already noticing its impact evolving in unexpected and positive ways.

Airwallex has inspired an ecosystem where students can learn the art and science of technopreneurship.

Airwallex has enabled the Faculty’s School of Computing and Information Systems to expand its team, hiring four new academic staff specialising in digital innovation. This addition of expertise has led to the redesign of existing subjects and the development of new ones, all aimed at encouraging an innovation mindset among students.

The program’s success is exemplified by the introduction of a Digital Innovation & Technopreneurship subject that has attracted 189 students in its first semester. The subject, open to a wide range of degrees, explores the essentials of successful entrepreneurship with a focus on the behaviours, attitudes, values and skills crucial for innovation in both start-ups and established organisations.

This subject serves to further enhance an ecosystem of innovation in which student clubs such as the Computing and Information Systems Students Association and Women In Tech—all sponsored by Airwallex—have become active centres of creativity and collaboration, further supporting the program's goals.

The success of this initiative is reflected not just in enrolment numbers but in the gradual shift in how students view their future careers. They are now encouraged to think as ‘technopreneurs’ capable of identifying real-world problems and developing innovative solutions.

The support of Airwallex has been instrumental in creating an environment where students are not only learning about technology but actively engaging with its practical applications. By helping to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world translation, this visionary program is preparing a new generation of innovators ready to address challenges through technological solutions.

As the program continues to develop, it stands as an example of the potential that lies in partnerships between industry and academia. Airwallex's generosity represents an investment in the future of technology and innovation in Australia and beyond. The compound effects of this partnership will continue to be seen in the coming years, as graduates emerge ready to contribute to the worlds of technology, entrepreneurship and innovation.