UNSW has taken the top spot in both undergraduate and postgraduate categories of The Big Idea Competition, beating entrants from 13 other universities.
Leveraging the Big Issue's expertise networks, The Big Idea Competition immerses students in the world of social entrepreneurship. This year’s competition was proudly supported by industry partner, PwC, who hosted the finals on 4 December.
Students were set with a challenge to explore ideas and solutions to address real social issues, through the lens of working as a social enterprise. The process involved unprecedented access to Australian 'Thought Leaders' and experts, who provided students with guidance, advice and direction to support the development of their business plans.
Our winning teams have not only earned themselves kudos, but a trip to PwC’s office in Melbourne, where they will receive a full-day immersion experience, armed with new iPads.
Winning Undergraduate team: Bugisu Project
A cross-disciplinary team - including UNSW Business School, Engineering and Arts & Social Sciences students - won judges over with their social business. Bugisu Project focused on supplying speciality coffee to Australian workplaces while reinvesting 100% of profits to gender equality programs in Uganda, where the coffee is grown. The Project is focused on zero waste, delivering coffee in reusable canisters and recycling used coffee grounds.
Winning Postgraduate team: flower2empower
The all-UNSW Business School team were brought to tears after learning their Indonesian-based social enterprise won the postgraduate category. Focused on upcycling wedding flower waste to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities, flower2empower looked at the production of pressed flower candles and soaps targeted at the wedding favours and decorations market.
Runner up UNSW team: Renewable Space
A special mention to our finalist postgraduate team, whose social business aimed to reduce the volume of plastic waste going to landfill through initiatives to use materials to build sustainable and affordable homes.
A collaboration between UNSW Business School and Centre for Social Impact, UNSW students have the opportunity to enter The Big Idea Competition either as an extra-curricular, general education or for-credit UNSW Business work integrated learning (WIL) program
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