Response Ready Disrupt Challenge Apply Now
Key Dates
Challenge Briefing: Wednesday 23 September, 4:30pm – 7pm
Challenge Dates: Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 September, 9am – 5pm
Location: UC Centre for Entrepreneurship, Rehua Building, University of Canterbury
About the Challenge
Mission-critical organisations rely on timely, trustworthy information when communication failures, incomplete details, or delayed decisions can have serious consequences. This challenge invites students to reimagine situation awareness, how people, teams, organisations, and communities understand what is happening, what it means, and what may happen next.
There is no single right answer. Teams could develop a product, service, platform, process, business model, policy, community initiative, or new technology concept that improves safety, decision-making, coordination, and resilience in critical situations.
The Problem Statement
Today's mission-critical environments generate more information than ever before. However, more information does not automatically create better understanding. In fast-moving situations, people may need to make important decisions while facing uncertainty, pressure, competing priorities, changing conditions, and incomplete data.
The opportunity is to explore how people, systems, and technology can work together to turn information into actionable insight. Strong situation awareness can help teams reduce uncertainty, identify what matters, coordinate more effectively, and respond with greater confidence before, during, and after critical events.
Potential Areas for Exploration
Teams may choose to focus on any aspect of situation awareness. Possible starting points include:
· People Under Pressure – How might we help people think clearly, work together and make better decisions when it matters most?
· Signals and Insights – How might we turn complex information into clear, trustworthy insights people can act on?
· Tech in the Field – How might emerging technology help people understand changing situations and respond more effectively in the field?
· Readiness and Resilience – How might we help organisations and communities prepare for disruption, coordinate their response, and recover stronger?
About Tait Communications
Tait Communications designs and manufactures mission-critical communication solutions used by public safety agencies, utilities, transport operators, mining organisations, and enterprise customers around the world. Headquartered in Christchurch, New Zealand, Tait supports customers in more than 160 countries.
Tait delivers technologies including land mobile radio networks, broadband-enabled solutions, rugged devices, network infrastructure, accessories, video solutions, and associated services. The company is also delivering New Zealand's nationwide Public Safety Network and continues to expand its mission-critical portfolio to support safer and more connected operations globally.
Challenge Structure
By participating in the Situation Awareness Disrupt Challenge, you will attend a kick-off session on the Wednesday before the challenge weekend, where you will meet your team, hear from Tait Communications leaders and experts, explore the challenge theme, and begin problem discovery and ideation.
This experience will provide you with:
· Opportunities to apply your studies to real world challenges;
· Ability to connect with industry partners and mentors;
· Connections with other students from across different disciplines;
· A practical extracurricular experience for your C.V.
During the weekend, you will work in a multidisciplinary team of 3 to 5 students from across the region to deeply understand the problem, identify opportunities, develop an innovative solution, and prepare a pitch. You can apply as an individual or as part of a team.
Throughout the Challenge, you will enjoy free food, receive coaching from UCE staff, and gain mentoring and input from sector and industry experts. At the end of the Challenge, your team will pitch your concept to a panel of judges.
The Response Ready Challenge is the perfect opportunity for you to meet new people, hone your skills, build your CV, and have a real impact in the world!
Who Should Apply?
This Challenge is open to University of Canterbury, Ara, Lincoln, and Canterbury-based tertiary students from any discipline. No prior experience in communications technology is required.
We are looking for students from a wide range of backgrounds, including:
· Engineering, software engineering, computer science, data science, and information systems
· Business, marketing, entrepreneurship, and innovation
· Design, product development, and creative disciplines
· Psychology, health sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities
· Environmental sciences, infrastructure, policy, and community-focused disciplines
Before the challenge, you’ll join a team of 4-5 students. The strongest teams bring together different perspectives. You can register individually or with friends.
Note: Each team member will need to complete the sign-up form, and you can let us know who you would like to team up with.
What Will You Gain?
· Hands-on experience solving a real industry challenge
· Insight into mission-critical communication, public safety, infrastructure, and field operations
· Mentorship from Tait Communications experts and UCE staff
· Opportunities to apply your studies to a meaningful real-world problem
· Connections with students from other disciplines and with industry professionals
· Practical experience for your CV and LinkedIn profile
· Experience pitching ideas to industry and innovation leaders
· The chance to win part of a $3,000 cash prize pool
Prizes
By participating in the Challenge, you and your team will have the chance to win part of a $3,000 cash prize pool awarded among winning teams and participants, subject to terms and conditions.
