Dean of Global Futures Professor Farida Fozdar, a sociologist, highlighted that rebuilding after war required much more than replacing damaged buildings and infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It also presented an opportunity to reconsider the systems that shape society, including political representation, economic inequality, press freedom, human rights and psychological recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students demonstrated remarkable creativity, commitment and technological capability while working outside their usual areas of study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout the week, they were encouraged to draw on previous post war reconstruction efforts and consider the political, cultural and human realities of the communities connected to their chosen contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStudents will carry the insights, knowledge, skills and creativity gained into their future endeavours,\u201d Professor Fozdar reflected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe lessons learned here have the power to effect real world change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students participated in sessions led by academics, humanitarian practitioners from NGOs, journalists, engineers, former defence personnel and professionals with experience in conflict affected regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contributors included a former United Nations peacekeeper, Save the Children representatives working in Gaza, Engineers Australia, SBS, Communicare, the United Nations Association of Australia WA Division and researchers involved in the Art of Peace exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The program also provided practical development in design thinking, digital innovation, visual presentation, 3D printing, responsible uses of artificial intelligence and communicating ideas to professional audiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Â鶹ֱ²¥ Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne attended the final showcase, where she met with students and explored the projects developed throughout the challenge. She was impressed by the creativity, care and depth of thinking behind the proposals, as well as the students\u2019 ability to respond thoughtfully to complex global issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Â鶹ֱ²¥ Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor Mark Ogden emphasised the value of bringing students from different disciplines together to learn from one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEveryone across the University coming together to work in multidisciplinary teams is such a wonderful learning opportunity,\u201d Professor Ogden shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He connected the challenge to Curtin\u2019s commitment to making tomorrow better by helping students develop the relationships, resilience and open mindedness needed to respond to complex global issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Professor Ogden also acknowledged the industry and community partners who contributed their professional and personal experience throughout the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese partnerships play an essential role in equipping our students with the tools for life beyond university and the challenges they will inevitably face,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro Vice Chancellor of Humanities Professor Richard Blythe described the challenge as a different approach to education, one that prepared students to respond to problems without simple or predetermined answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rather than learning only within their individual disciplines, students were required to combine their knowledge with the perspectives and skills of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This ability to work collectively was central to responding to uncertain and rapidly changing global challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have been learning how to learn from each other,\u201d Professor Blythe told students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have been involved in the very difficult task of building things and trying to imagine, visualise and explain to each other what a better future might look like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He encouraged students to move beyond what was already known, drawing on their technical knowledge, creativity and collective experience to imagine new possibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Civil engineering and finance student Angel Moyo initially enrolled in the intensive unit to gain 25 credit points and reduce her workload during the semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the end of the week, however, the experience had given her far more than she expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy thinking has been challenged. I\u2019ve learned to adopt new perspectives and to view problems through a different lens,\u201d Angel reflected.<\/p>\n\n\n She spoke about the complexity and fragility of the systems that hold societies together, as well as the impact individual and collective decisions can have on communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The experience also strengthened her ability to collaborate, manage disagreements and work with people from different backgrounds and disciplines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese are skills I unfortunately never learned in my concrete or steel design units, but skills that I will carry through my degree, my career and probably the rest of my life,\u201d she shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Angel, one of the most important lessons was recognising that learning extended far beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome of the most important lessons come from the people we meet, the experiences we share and the world beyond our own,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are forever learning, and that is a privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Global Futures Challenge: After War gave students the opportunity to move beyond theory and apply their knowledge to some of the most difficult questions facing communities around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While no single project could resolve the complexity of post conflict reconstruction, the challenge demonstrated what can happen when students are given the space to listen, collaborate and think boldly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through their 25 projects, students considered not only how communities might rebuild, but how they might create societies that are more resilient, inclusive and peaceful. The challenge reinforced that rebuilding after war is not simply about returning to what existed before. It is about imagining what could come next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/about\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/06\/22-6-26-110-2560x1280.jpg\")
Learning across disciplines<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Preparing students for the unknown<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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A student perspective<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Building a better future together<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Event Gallery <\/h4>\n\n\n