VU RISE: Recover, Innovate, Sustain, Evolve

The Sustainable Futures Innovation Hub in Werribee focuses on responsible consumption and production practices in key industry sectors, in-line with the State Government’s Recycling Victoria strategy and the objectives of reducing waste and progressing the circular economy.

The Hub will cohere around four projects, delivered in partnership with government, community and industry organisations.

• Digital transformation of construction industry for improved quality & safety: With the ever-increasing growth in the construction industry, a history of defective work, poor quality, and more fatalities than any other industry in Australia, this research project will develop cost-effective ‘Smart’ tools for use within the industry.
• New recycled waste construction products: Our research will perform geotechnical and structural investigations on the utilization of recycled glass and plastics and demolition wastes in concrete house slab systems and associated road pavements in Melbourne’s west.
• Next generation water management in the Werribee River Catchment: Education and research to shape policy and better inform decisions around community management, planning servicing and infrastructure solutions with particular emphasis on challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Sustainable Packaging Solutions: This research project will provide solutions for reducing the consumption of single-use packaging materials and the creation of new alternatives using agricultural by-products and other waste materials.

The Education Innovation Hub focuses on:

• understanding transition barriers that prevent students from reaching their potential and reducing the availability of trained workers;
• co-designing research-based solutions, including innovations for micro-credentials, 'stackable blocking' across HE and VET/TAFE, and workplace-integrated learning.

Projects in this Hub include:

• New employability development programs to increase & sustain graduate employment outcomes: This project aims to provide clarity as the real needs of different organisations in terms of what is most highly valued in graduate applications in 2021 across a range of indicative industry sectors.
• Achieving successful graduate outcomes: Models to enhance postgraduate student learning: This project explores how the innovative block mode, VU Online and remote learning, is best utilised to enhance greater access to authentic student learning experiences and optimise opportunities for successful graduate outcomes.
• The Summer Gap Project: This project elevates young people as co-researchers navigating the transitions from school-leaver through tertiary pathways and out to work.
• Vocational Education and Training hybrid education & learning project: This project focuses on modes of learning that guarantee work and life-readiness for students, providing flexible and transitional learning opportunities for students to ensure that they are adaptable and work ready.