UQ Ventures: the uni experience that could shape your career

How are you preparing for your future career? While lectures, tests and assignments all play an important role in your university life, some of the most valuable experiences happen outside the classroom.

Today's employers are looking for graduates who can think creatively, solve complex problems, adapt to change and collaborate with diverse teams. These skills are becoming increasingly important in a world shaped by artificial intelligence and emerging technologies that are evolving faster than ever before.

At The University of Queensland, students can develop these future-ready skills through programs such as Ventures, a university-wide initiative that empowers the next generation of innovators and changemakers.

For Diva Zaafira, a pharmacist from Indonesia studying a Master of Pharmaceutical Industry Practice at UQ, Ventures changed her uni experience. What began as curiosity transformed into a journey that expanded her confidence, introduced her to new ways of thinking and shaped how she viewed her future career.

What is Ventures? 

Ventures is a launchpad for turning ideas into real, global impact. It features immersive programs, collaborative experiences and a vibrant community of students, staff and alumni designed to develop your personal, professional and entrepreneurial skills.

Since it started in 2012, Ventures has welcomed more than 30,000 participants. The program has empowered over 390 start-ups through accelerators and incubators, which have gone on to attract more than $435 million in investment and grant funding. 

How Ventures develops future-ready skills 

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 highlights some of the most important skills workers will need in the coming years. These include:

• analytical and creative thinking

• adaptability

• agility

• teamwork

• lifelong learning.

At UQ, we go further to give you the skills and opportunities you need to succeed in the world of tomorrow. Ventures is just one of the ways we do this.

Gaining real-world experience and problem-solving

“Ventures is a space where curiosity meets action,” says Diva.

Ventures offers various programs that you can mix and match depending on your experience and goals.

For many beginners like Diva, the entry-level program called Curiosity is a good starting point. This program is designed to help you test your ideas and develop innovative thinking skills. 

“I challenged myself to step outside my comfort zone and explore how I could help solve real-world problems,” says Diva. 

“That experience was the turning point where I realised I genuinely enjoy entrepreneurship, and it led me to pursue other Ventures programs from there.”

Curiosity is the entry point to the Ventures ecosystem, and feeds directly into other Ventures programs for those who are ready to test their ideas further with industry support.

Skills and experience you can unlock through these programs include:

• tackling industry challenges

• solving real problems

• working in multidisciplinary teams

• pitching ideas

• engaging with mentors.

Building industry connections through mentorship

Career success can also hinge on who you learn from and the connections you make along the way. Ventures gives students access to a network of investors, start-up founders and industry professionals who can provide valuable mentorship and professional connections. These connections can help students build confidence, expand their networks, deepen their industry knowledge, and get a head start on internships and graduate roles.

Diva says she was nervous when she first started Ventures, and worried that her ideas might not be valued. But the support she received soon put her at ease.

“I quickly learned that the mentors were there for exactly that reason. They helped me navigate my ideas, shape them into realistic solutions, and stay grounded in what mattered most: solving the problem,” she says. 

“The biggest lesson I took away was that ideas and approaches can evolve and change, but your core goal stays the same.”

After Curiosity, Diva has gone on to participate in many other Ventures initiatives. This includes LeadHers, a vibrant network of women focused on professional and personal growth; and the Industry Challenge, an 8-week team-based competition where students work together to innovate new solutions to some of the biggest challenges of today. Ventures also brought her to Shanghai for an intern opportunity at AI infrastructure company Transwarp.

Global opportunities for future entrepreneurs

As a leading research institution, UQ is committed to nurturing entrepreneurial capability and fostering inclusive access to innovation. And while Ventures develops a wide range of skills and opportunities, at its core is helping startups thrive.

For example, Validate helps you test and refine your idea with feedback so you can develop a potential business model. For those who are ready to go to market and find investors, ilab Accelerator can fast-track your startup with a $15,000 SAFE note investment.

For those who want to gain first-hand experience of what life in a start-up is like, Startup AdVentures is perfect. These are 4-week learning experiences where you can learn from experienced entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world about founding, investing in and growing an early-stage business. Recent Startup AdVentures programs have taken students to Munich, Hanoi, San Francisco, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

How Ventures can transform your career

Diva says her time at UQ hasn’t just helped her take the next step in her career, it’s reshaped her idea of what her career could look like.

“UQ will open doors you didn't even know existed.”

“I came here as a pharmacist with a fairly set idea of my path, and UQ completely expanded what I thought was possible," says Diva.

"Brisbane and UQ were the starting point. They gave me access to world-class professional learning and eventually opened the door to industry experience in Sydney, too.”

Now, her goal is to create impact wherever she goes. 

Her advice to other international students is simple: “Choosing UQ and Brisbane is genuinely one of the best decisions I've ever made. Trust the process, engage with everything on offer and be open to being surprised by where it takes you.”

The future belongs to those who can innovate and lead change. By engaging with initiatives such as Ventures, students can graduate with more than a degree. They can develop the skills, networks and practical experience to stand out in a rapidly evolving global workforce.