Every year the Sustainable Futures Enterprise Challenge sees small teams of students from institutions around the globe work together to improve their enterprise skills and explore the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); this year Newcastle students gave a near perfect sweep!
Newcastle University partnered with the Singapore campus, as well as Universities in the Netherlands, Barbados and Columbia to host the virtual competition. Teams were made of 3-8 students, and they were asked to explore the SDGs, and then conceive, develop and pitch a project focussed on one, or even two, that supports their university’s continued work towards meeting the SDGs and being a sustainable campus.
Real time solutions were presented by students that universites can look to adopt
Final round entries were presented and judged 8 November across all the universities by academic staff as well as industry leaders. Real time solutions were presented by students that universities can look to adopt to meet their SDG challenges.
In the final outcome, Newcastle University teams respectively won both first and second place! The third-place award was awarded to a team from University of Andes. Newcastle’s winners included the first place team of Ayoub Ouakkaha and Laura Breckon, and second places team Pari Balu, Karolina Domaros, Saranya Thanangthanakit, Pakpoom Boonprasert and Henry Wong. Ayoub Ouakkaha told The Courier: "I enjoyed working in an inclusive environment, reflected in our targeted proposal aimed at elevating inclusivity for disabled students in Higher Education." Karolina Domaros also told The Courier "taking part in the Sustainable Futures Enterprise Challenge was a valuable experience. It was interesting to work with a diverse team that I hadn't known before to create such a professional output." Pakboom Boonprasert reiterated this, stating the work has been "invaluable for professional growth, especially with taking this initiative further and creating an impact to last."
The winners of the Sustainable Futures Enterprise Challenge are given the opportunity to discuss making their proposal a reality on their home campus, it will be exciting to see whether Newcastle’s winners can bring a change for good to their campus!
