A new collaborative model is essential – one that integrates real-world imperatives into large-scale academic programs and provides students with experiential learning experiences where they can immediately apply what they learn. This model must provide all students, not just a privileged few, with meaningful exposure to industry realities, ensuring they develop essential employability skills.

The UNSW sandbox

UNSW Business School has designed the innovative Sandbox program to address these gaps. The Sandbox program is a transformative approach to employability, positioning industry as a co-creator of education rather than a passive recipient of graduates.

Through the program, students engage directly with industry partners to solve contemporary business challenges as part of their degree. The program creates courses that serve as “industrial sandboxes,” where industry experience and real-world problem solving are directly integrated into course curricula.

Since launching in November 2019, more than 10,000 students have worked on more than 90 real-world challenges, partnering with 170 practitioners from diverse industries and community groups, including Microsoft, EY and PwC, and key industry players for purpose non-profit, such as the Australian Red Cross. Through the Sandbox program, students discover new career paths while creating solutions to pressing problems like digital resilience and sustainability, gaining the experience and skills that employers value most.

For businesses, the program provides an immediate pipeline of creative ideas and emerging talent, particularly in emerging areas like AI, cybersecurity and digital transformation. For students, this opens doors to real-world opportunities, positioning them as work-ready graduates in a competitive market. For UNSW Business School academics, the reward is seeing their work applied to real-world impact and demonstrating leadership in academic-industry partnerships.

Go global

In 2023, UNSW Business School expanded the Sandbox program by launching the Global Sandbox Alliance, creating an international network of universities and industries working together to address pressing global challenges. Founding partner members include the University of Toronto and Nanyang Technological University, with the alliance set to expand further.

As the alliance grows, Australian students will have access to cross-border projects and international business challenges, further enhancing their employability. At the same time, Australian businesses will benefit from partnerships with students and academics from some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, ensuring they are competitive on the global stage.

Yenni Tim is an Associate Professor at UNSW.