About Us

We are the 21C Student Curriculum Partners

Who we are.

We are the Western Sydney University 21C Student Curriculum Partners (SCP). As part of the 21C Project with its focus on the future of work and society, we co-create and co-design transdisciplinary learning experiences that drive curriculum transformation. Sponsored by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Simon Barrie and funded by our University’s Board of Trustees, we work in partnership with staff and external partners to develop curriculum that fosters hybrid skills and capabilities in WSU students to enable their success.

“It’s the idea that we will not even think about creating curriculum unless we think about it with our partners: partners in the community, industry but most importantly with our students themselves.”

— Simon Barrie (on Partnership Pedagogy)

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Transforming Curriculum

Through the lens of Partnership Pedagogy, our work in the 21C Transforming Curriculum stream over the past 2 years has focused on the five Curriculum Challenges: Global Citizens, Sustainability Advocates, STEM+ Capability, Innovative Entrepreneurs, and Future Thinkers. Led by senior academics in Schools, these five Curriculum Challenges will deliver 10 new transdisciplinary Minors and 25 Curiosity Pods that will be on offer to students in 2022. In our Challenge work, we are at the table as the ideas for curriculum are discussed, debated, designed and evaluated. We undertake research, pitch ideas and assess their educational merits, create a feedback loop with students, investigate appropriate apps and platforms, give presentations, make resources, meet with external industry partners and teams of academics, and much more. We are key members of the Curriculum Challenge teams.

What we do.

In addition, we have also led the development of several curriculum initiatives and resources ourselves intended to expand our University’s partnership landscape.

Who We Are

  • Max Ashcroft-Smith is in the final year of Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) and began his role as an SCP in March 2020. He is a self-certified tea connoisseur, with his favourites being green, peppermint, and hibiscus tea.   

  • Thilakshi Mallawa Arachchi is in her final year of Master of Teaching (English). She is the co-founder of PATH in Colombo Sri Lanka, a registered non-profit organisation founded in 2013 with the primary motive of supporting underprivileged students to get access to resources for their school education. Thilakshi commenced as an SCP in March 2020.

  • Emma Caughey is a final year Master of Teaching (Secondary) student and has been an SCP since March 2020. Though her background is Science, she would absolutely love to sneak her way into an art studio or food technology room at her future school. 

  • Sophia Clark is in the second year of a Bachelor of Business. Her journey as an SCP started at the beginning of 2021. Sophia spends a lot of her time painting or playing music as she finds it calming and enjoyable. 

  • Jasmine Derbas is a fifth year Bachelor of Laws/ Communications student and has been an SCP for 3 years. Jaz has made many things including a fun "day of my life” video and working with academics to recreate curriculum. She spends a lot of time making resin art, watching true crime documentaries, cooking, and spending time with family. 

  • Alex Donoghue is a postgrad currently completing his Masters thesis in Game Studies and began his role as an SCP in March 2020. During lockdown, Alex realised his impressive and niche skill is reciting Simpsons’ episodes line for line.  

  • Morgan Drum is in 3rd year studying a Bachelor of Creative Industries (Digital Cultures/English). She began as an SCP in August 2021 and spends most of her time playing piano accordion to her 3 cats.

  • Sameer Hifazat is completing his Masters of Research. His role as an SCP kicked off nearly 2 years ago. In his spare time, Sameer loves to read, drink green tea, and watch a wide variety of sports. 

  • Brooke Mees is in her final year of Master of Teaching and began as an SCP 3 years ago. During that time, Brooke has co-created units offered university-wide, contributed to published articles, presented at national conferences, and collaborated with external partners. She loves coffee, and relaxing with her cat, Luna.  

  • Kobi Newell is a first year Bachelor of Business student majoring in Human Resource Management and Australian Indigenous Studies. He’s a proud Aboriginal man from the Worimi Mob located on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales. Kobi started as an SCP in August 2021.

  • Evelyn Nguyen is a second year of Masters of Social Work (Qualifying) student. She began life as an SCP in early 2020 and has acted as a student representative on several advisory groups and university committees. She is a certified scuba diver and hopes to cross the top 10 dive sites of the world off her bucket list.  

  • My Nguyen is a Science undergraduate majoring in Mathematics. She's into all kinds of problem-solving and enjoys using technology to solve any daily life challenge. She is a newly inducted SCP in midst of 2021. Apart from that she is a part-time coffee and boba fanatic.

  • Tai Peseta is the academic lead of the 21C Transforming Curriculum stream and leads the student-staff partnership strategy. Like many Pacific Islanders, she sang alto in a church choir but these days, sings along to the twang of alt-country and is very rusty.

  • Lilly-Rose Saliba is in her second year of a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology). Even though she was born in the noughties, she is an 80s child at heart. She began her role as an SCP in mid 2021.

  • Clementine Sugita is a final year Bachelor of Midwifery student. Her SCP role commenced in early 2020. Clementine likes pressing flowers and is learning the art of embroidery. 

  • Samuel Suresh is in year 4 of a Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Science degree and began his role as an SCP in early 2020. Aside from his studies, he loves photography, videography and enjoys playing cricket.

  • Shivani Suresh is a postgrad in her first year of a Master of Health Science and began her role as an SCP in January 2021. She loves learning about languages, people, and culture, and never says no to watching a good film.