In early February, two Otago Polytechnic ākonga, Jackson Wallace (Civil Engineering) and Connor Hannagan (Electrical Engineering), accompanied by lecturer Matt Slattery-Holmes, embarked on a six day workshop in Toba City, Japan.

The event brought together students from around the world, including participants from Singapore Polytechnic, the College of Information Technology in Vietnam, Kaua'i Community College in Hawaii, and various KOSEN colleges across Japan.

The focus of the workshop was to develop innovative solutions for producing fresh water from saltwater, a critical issue for many communities facing water scarcity.

The collaborative nature of the workshop provided a unique opportunity for students to work alongside their international peers, pooling their knowledge and creativity to tackle the challenge of water desalination. 

Over the course of the week, the teams designed and constructed working prototypes that could convert saltwater into fresh drinking water. Jackson, Connor, and the other participants had the opportunity to work in diverse groups with other students from all over the world.

The teams which featured OP ākonga were awarded the prizes for best presentation, and most enthusiastic presentation by the judges, who included several notable businessmen and engineers from Japanese companies. 

The workshop not only allowed Jackson and Connor to showcase their technical skills but also provided invaluable cultural exchange experiences. Working with students from different countries highlighted the importance of teamwork, adaptability and creativity in solving global challenges.

The awards earned by the Otago Polytechnic team underscore the high standard of work produced by the students and their ability to engage with complex real-world problems. For Jackson and Connor, the workshop was a memorable and enriching experience that they will carry with them into their future careers.

This collaboration between Otago Polytechnic and international institutions demonstrates the importance of global partnerships in fostering innovation, learning, and mutual respect.

The success of the workshop also highlights the high quality of education at Otago Polytechnic, where students are given opportunities to develop practical skills that have a meaningful impact on the world.

We thank our Japanese relationship partner Toba National College of Technology for enabling this wonderful opportunity.