TESSI Down Under

TESSI Down Under 2024

The Transformative Education for Sustainable Social Impact (TESSI) Institute is a one-week interdisciplinary workshop designed to empower faculty, community, non-governmental organizations and other non-profit organization practitioners with the expertise and tools needed to reshape their courses, curricula and programs in response to global grand challenges. Rooted in the principles of creative inquiry and the praxis of Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship, the TESSI Institute offers educators and practitioners an innovative framework for crafting curricula/programs that engage students and communities in authentic, real-world projects, where they co-create innovative, practical, and sustainable solutions that address the needs of vulnerable populations and communities facing social, economic, and environmental challenges.

At the completion of workshop, participants will be capable in building toolkits for delivering sustainable impact, while preparing their students and/or organisations to identify problems, design solutions, develop business models, and leverage storytelling. This method places students and staff at the centre of the knowledge discovery process, using a “hands-on, hearts-on” approach to make meaning based on their lived experiences / professional expertise. Participants take radical ownership in their projects, while faculty and organisation mentors become partners and co-creators striving to propel their projects forward on the journey towards tangible, sustainable impact. Participants will become catalysts for transformative  programs who foster a new generation of socially conscious leaders ready to tackle the complex challenges of our time. TESSI is envisioned as a week of inspiration, skills-building and network-building with a deep commitment to driving sustainable social impact programs.

Certificates will be given to participants upon completion of this workshop. Participants are expected to deploy the tools and techniques in their universities and organisations and will be encouraged to join the pool of trainers to help teach future cohorts.

Sponsors:

Bruce Wong & Foot Solutions Australia
Reach for Your Future Foundation
Human Rights Measurement Initiative
Institute of Health and Management 

Partners:
Civika Asian Development Academy
Planetary Regeneration Lab