2021-10-12 P&E Agenda - Item 10 - Attachment 1 - Social Return on Investment Evaluation

When assessed by grade, there is more specific understanding of the contribution of the Digital Hub, to career
direction. For students within grades 9-12, nearly 70% of parents considered the activities at the Digital Hub
helped form their confidence in future career direction. Anecdotally, this is a high percentage as it is common
for students across these grades and ages to have less certainty.
This question is relevant to the SROI, as it sought information regarding whether students may continue into a
career in a related industry, which may mean eventual transition into the local technology and digital industry.
To understand this potential, the evaluation team sought more information from the Digital Hub Director,
Chris Boden, with findings itemised below.



         Is the Digital Hub helping to create a talent pipeline?
         Are there pathways for this local talent?
         ---------------------------------------------
     •   1 x student created a machine learning/ AI system for counting cells which is being used
         commercially by a local biotech company.

     •   1 x student developed a computational microscope which has been deployed by the same company
         in its operations.

     •   8 x students from the 2020 AI cohort are working on a commercial AI project for a local biotech
         company.
     •   4 x cadets have applied their skills to create Travelator - an affiliate marketing tool for travel
         influencers on YouTube/Instagram. They were runners up in the Gen [in] entrepreneurship
         competition and are now finalists in the Generation Innovation challenge.

     •   2 x students won scholarships to engineering programs, with the support of the Digital Hub.

     •   1 x student who was hired straight into an engineering role at a local biotech start-up immediately
         after graduating year 12.




34