A group of students from Chennai’s SRM Public School recently wrapped up an immersive learning experience in Melbourne as part of the Global Design Challenge 2025, hosted by the Victorian Department of Education and the Knox Innovation, Opportunity and Sustainability Centre (KIOSC). Their visit brought them face-to-face with students from Keysborough College, as the two groups collaborated on practical sustainability projects underpinned by global learning.
The program centred on a shared commitment to solving real-world challenges. Students worked on themes such as clean energy, waste management, health technology and digital games. The initiative forms part of a broader effort to build international collaboration into school education, connecting Victorian students with peers from India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Indonesia.
The Consul General of India in Melbourne, Dr Sushil Kumar, met with the visiting SRM students during their time at KIOSC. The visit came as part of a wider engagement effort by the Indian mission to strengthen educational and cultural ties between India and Victoria. Dr Kumar’s presence signalled the importance of such exchanges, especially in fields like STEM where both countries are investing heavily in future-skilling young people.
The Global Design Challenge has grown into one of Victoria’s flagship student engagement programs. This year, the state’s four specialised STEM centres, including KIOSC, Gippsland Tech School, Banyule Nillumbik Tech School and Wyndham Tech School, welcomed 255 students from overseas and 385 from Victorian government schools.
The format encourages students to work in mixed teams across borders, designing creative solutions to real-world challenges. While the specific projects undertaken by the SRM and Keysborough teams have not been detailed, clean energy emerged as one of the central themes. As one SRM student, Kushi, noted during the program, she was particularly inspired by her work on hydrogen energy, describing the project as “exciting and empowering”.
Victoria’s Department of Education describes the program as a hands-on learning opportunity that strengthens STEM capabilities while building global competencies and intercultural understanding. While participation is free for government schools, it’s also supported through initiatives like the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series, which funds access to high-quality extension programs across the state.
KIOSC, which operates through Swinburne University in partnership with local schools, has long prioritised inquiry-based, industry-aligned learning. Past events hosted at the centre have included hydrogen-powered car challenges and sustainability simulations, giving students a taste of what it means to solve real problems in real time. The facility includes cutting-edge labs and technology zones, helping students translate classroom theory into practical experiments.
SRM Public School, known for its strong emphasis on robotics, innovation and interdisciplinary learning, has previously participated in hydrogen technology programs. The school is part of a larger network of educational institutions in India fostering future-ready skills through international exposure. Its partnership with Keysborough College builds on growing educational engagement between India and Australia—a key plank of Victoria’s broader India Strategy.
While Round 1 of the Global Design Challenge has concluded, further collaboration is expected through the year. Victorian students and their international partners will continue exploring how new technologies and global cooperation can reshape the way we live, work and think about the future.
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