The Higher Education Review

Dan Wortley, CEO

Dan Wortley possesses over 13 years of experience in senior management roles in both Australia and the UK covering the education, software as a service, health, and general consultancy sectors. Studying his MBA degree from Edinburgh Business School, Wortley presently handles the role of CEO at Laneway International College.

In 11-31 York Street, Sydney, The New South Wales government has built a massive startup hub spanning 11 floors. A $35 million project, the Sydney Startup Hub, the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, covers 17, 000 square metres - roughly the size of the Sydney Cricket ground. The hub is already occupied by existing startup co-working providers like Tank Stream Labs, Stone and Chalk, Fishburners and The Studio as anchor tenants, instantly creating an epicenter of local tech activities. The only education institution operating in the Sydney Startup Hub is Laneway International College. Now, learning with Laneway inside the Sydney Startup Hub means that the students are already part of a thriving community right from the moment they start their studies. "Our college is the only education provider inside the $35 million Sydney startup hub and this is the testament of the unmatched effort of Laneway in terms of delivering education that is future-looking and entrepreneurial in spirit," pinpoints Dan Wortley, CEO, Laneway International College

Working hand-in-hand with vibrant startup companies, Laneway has developed a unique approach to education. To empower students to become entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, the college has

thrown out the old classroom rules. Wortley explains, "Our students have the option of emphasizing on their own business dream or working on one of our real-world business projects throughout their studies. In both cases, they will learn and use cutting-edge techniques to harness their creativity and find innovative solutions to business problems." Further, the college also invites some of the sharpest minds in the Australian start-up scene to add their individual perspective and share their stories with the students.

"With a strong commitment to teaching excellence and industry engagement, Laneway International College enriches the students by rendering right knowledge, experience, and attitude to excel in their chosen profession"

With a strong commitment to teaching excellence and industry engagement, the college enriches the students by rendering right knowledge, experience, and attitude to excel in their chosen profession. Laneway offers a wide range of specialist courses in Business (Entrepreneurship), Marketing (Digital and Social) and Leadership and Management (Intrapreneurship), from Certificate IV to Advanced Diploma level qualifications. Regarded as one of Australia's leading innovative private providers of nationally recognized courses, Laneway focuses primarily on real-world outcomes and business innovation. "We pride ourselves for having on board an academic and management team who have over 50 years of combined experience in education management, work-integrated learning, and student support. We are dedicated to guiding our students in every step," shares Wortley.

Laneway welcomes the students to pursue their education in a vibrant and dynamic environment that can be experienced in both of the colleges campus locations, viz. Sydney Startup Hub and Canberra City. The proficient faculty members of Laneway challenges the traditional approaches of education through delivering innovative training methods that combine project-based learning, design

thinking and networking.

Granting Valuable Skills

According to a study from the University of Phoenix, 93 percent of adults think they possess at least some entrepreneurial qualities. In this scenario, allowing employees to take ownership of their work is the new attitude that a number of prominent companies have been adopting. Wortley opines, "Candidates who are able to bring out-of-the-box thinking to the table are currently in high demand among employers. At Laneway, we give substantial heed to this factor." The teaching and learning process at Laneway is not the regular one. In fact, the students get the opportunity to participate in classes and workshops led by entrepreneurs, business coaches, and start-up founders, who share their wealth of knowledge and experience

Laneway is an extremely student-friendly educational hub where students from any corner of the country can experience a home-like environment from the very first day of their college. Every student can get access to a personal coach ensuring constant support throughout their course tenure at Laneway along with an experienced Student Experience team, which assists in making their orientation into the college simple and fun.

Understanding the financial hurdles faced by some students while admitting in a college, the management of Laneway allow their students to pay their tuition fees in installments. "We know students enter into an institution with great hopes and aims. Given this, we make every possible attempt to stand upon their expectations," states Wortley. Upon enrollment at Laneway, the student naturally becomes a member of Tank Stream Labs, a breeding ground for innovation which renders them an exposure to the Australian Start-Up scene. From holding the hands of the students during the initial period to helping them with the funds through the Laneway Seed Fund, which makes annually $50,000 available for existing students and graduates, Laneway is no doubt creating a smooth and hassle-free success ladder for future leaders.