Exploring the University of Auckland’s innovation hub and maker space
4 July 2019
The space, which is open to all students and staff, has laser and vinyl cutters, 3D printers and scanners, sewing machines and more.
The University of Auckland opened its innovation hub and maker space, which was created for the benefit of all students and staff, in February 2018.
Located in the space formerly occupied by the Engineering Library, it comprises offices, a large space for events and a maker space.
Within the maker space is a suite of technology managed by a team of student creative technologists who run free create and make workshops and trainings to teach and empower others to use laser and vinyl cutters, 3D printers and scanners, electronics, vacuum formers, CNC routers and sewing machines.
But why have an innovation hub and maker space?
At the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), we build entrepreneurial capability. Teamwork, creative problem-solving, a global outlook and courage are the foundation of an entrepreneurial mindset. These skills and attitudes will help graduates thrive in this new world of work, irrespective of their chosen career path.
CIE runs a wide variety of programmes, meet-ups, and seminars at our Unleash Space facility.
Through making opportunities for students to work with others from all faculties and disciplines, we are opening up possibilities to network and collaborate. It is established that innovation comes from diverse experiences, knowledge, cultures and viewpoints.
The maker space offers the opportunity of learning by doing. Through initial fun workshops and equipment training, students develop confidence with equipment and are then encouraged to go further. By pairing practical knowledge with academic understanding, students can transition from playing to experimenting to prototyping inventions.
The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s most innovative university, as established by Reuters. Unleash Space is building on that foundation of academic excellence and innovation.
All truly ‘entrepreneurial’ universities have one thing in common: a unique and iconic collaboration and education space. This is ours.
Sign up for free equipment training and create what you can imagine
About Unleash Space
CIE’s free programmes are available to students and staff of all faculties and disciplines at the University of Auckland.
A joint project with the University of Auckland Business School, CIE and the School of Engineering, much research was done to ensure Unleash Space would be a world-class facility. Consulting with experts from Stanford, MIT, Yale, Case Western Reserve, and Georgia Tech provided a sound knowledge base from which to build.
The University raised $9.6 million in sponsorship to establish the space. We are eternally grateful to the founding donors for their generosity and vision – Sir Owen G Glenn KNZM ONZM HonLLD, Beca, Chau Hoi Shuen Foundation, Hynds Foundation, Li Ka-Shing (Canada) Foundation and PwC.
In its first year of operation, Unleash Space had 325 workshop participations, took 2,648 participants through equipment training and had 1,205 people participate in seminars, programmes, meet-ups and other events.