In June, Ulster University’s Student and Graduate Success Directorate collaborated with the University of Liverpool and the Berlin School of Economics and Law to facilitate a student Sustainable Innovation Challenge, in partnership with Handshake.
Employability and Graduate Futures collaborated with the Students Union to promote this opportunity to Course, School and Faculty Representatives and UUSU Society members. 70 students represented the three universities, with 24 Ulster students coming from various disciplines across all Faculties and year groups, participating in the Challenge.
The students were accompanied by Ulster University colleagues Seamus McConomy, Student Talent Manager, Emma Gordon-Devlin, Strategic Project Officer and Laura Cranston, Employability Consultant.
The Berlin Innovation Challenge 2024 was set by the Handshake team based in Berlin. Handshake is an online platform used by universities, students and employers to manage employability services and the advertising of placement and graduate job opportunities.
The Challenge got underway with the students being encouraged to generate ideas that would lead to sustainable solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and include the theme of human-to-human connection. The groupwork ideas were strong, with mentoring, peer and employer connections proving important among the students.
Employers and Alumni were excellent business advisors on the day and shared invaluable insight and experience to encourage the design thinking process.
The event delegates were privileged to hear from Ulster alumnus, Stephen Whyte, a Strategic Design and UX Lead from Propelland, who offered his expertise in design thinking and provided niche support to the groups throughout the experience.
The 'Mentor Hub' team was named as the winner and the celebrations afterwards were vibrant.
Following the Challenge, the students were treated to a fantastic, cultural tour of Berlin which had a lively atmosphere due to being a host city for the 2024 UEFA Euros.
Reflecting on the experience, Seamus McConomy, Student Talent Manager, said:
"The Sustainable Innovation Challenge 2024 in Berlin was an extraordinary experience for both our students and staff who accompanied them. Witnessing our students immerse themselves in the challenge, collaborate with peers from across Europe, and produce such innovative solutions to sustainability issues was really valuable.
“We are immensely proud of the dedication and enthusiasm our students demonstrated throughout the challenge and look forward to seeing how they apply these new insights and skills in their future endeavours."
Student Testimonial:
Cheyanne Corbett, a year 2 BEng (Hons) Electronic Engineering student, said:
“I applied to the innovation challenge to put myself out of my comfort zone, learn new skills and make new connections both within the university and with Liverpool and Berlin students.
"Once all the Ulster University students met each other we got on together like a family and every student at the innovation challenge were all as friendly and including as they could be!
"Going around Berlin with guides Lina and Jana was amazing. Getting to learn the history of the city and how they’ve grown as a country and seeing parliament, the walls and different important monuments was exciting with endless photo opportunities.
"The challenge was a fun yet nerve racking opportunity to work within a diverse team of students from all over the world. Putting our heads together and utilising what we had learned from different business professionals to make a sustainable project for handshake and present it to a crowd with questions afterwards was a great way to network and gain vital communication and teamworking skills.
"We had an amazing experience in Berlin, such as seeing the 2024 UEFA Euros opening ceremony and DJ set at Brandenburg gate, to sightseeing at the TV tower and the East Side Gallery.
"I don’t think anyone wanted to go home but we got to come back with new and lifelong friends, experiences and skills.”
The students embraced everything this fantastic opportunity and cultural experience offered them, networking, connecting, making friendships, learning and sharing knowledge, experience and ideas, gaining a deeper understanding of sustainability issues and most of all, having great fun!
The Berlin Sustainable Innovation Challenge 2024 not only enriched their academic journey but also inspired them to continue to strive for a more sustainable future.
Find out more:
If you have any further questions, contact Brian Byers by email to b.byers@ulster.ac.uk