Space exploration, robots or AI? Kai’s path is open

Kai Westlake is weighing up his options after winning the 2026 Maptek Computer Science prize at the University of Adelaide, South Australia.

The annual prize is awarded to the top performing student in second-year Computer

Science subjects, and with the versatility of this qualification Kai believes his career options are broad and flexible.

‘What I love most about computer science is how versatile it is.

Software is used in so many areas, from video games and productivity apps to healthcare systems and robots,’ he said.

‘The underlying skills are also highly transferable, which makes the field feel flexible and full of possibility. I also like that there are always new applications for software. Recent advances in generative AI, for example, have made it possible to tackle problems that once seemed almost impossible. It makes the field feel forward-looking and exciting.’

How did Kai achieve such great results?

‘Two of the main factors for me have been time management and understanding requirements.’

‘Roughly planning each week helps me spread work out more evenly and avoid the pressure of leaving things to the last minute. I also try to set aside blocks of time to work with full focus and no distractions.’

‘Aiming to finish assignments a few days early makes study less stressful and gives me more time to improve the final result.’

‘For school or university assignments, understanding requirements comes down to carefully reading both the task sheet and the marking rubric, identifying what is expected, and clarifying any ambiguities with a teacher if needed.’

Kai has maintained this approach since high school, and its importance has only become clearer through software and systems engineering studies.

‘In high school I was interested in areas like space exploration, robots and artificial intelligence, and that interest is still there.’

‘More broadly, I would like to work on systems that are genuinely useful and have a meaningful impact. I have not yet settled on one specific area, but I know I want to contribute to work that makes a real difference.’

‘I think this award will help me stand out to employers as proof of my ability to work hard and build competence across different areas of the field.’

‘I hope this recognition from a respected company like Maptek will help me pursue opportunities and begin my career in the industry.’

‘I look forward to continuing to learn and eventually contributing to something that makes a positive impact on people’s lives.’

We wish Kai well on his journey ahead.