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LUBS Sustainability Challenge 2024

Our annual Sustainability Challenge is a team-based competition for LUBS students, run in partnership each year with a well known Business. For 2024 we are excited to be partnering with Oxfam GB - one of the world's largest and most successful charities. Read on to learn how you can take part, gain valuable experience and have fun along the way!

Please note - the 2024 competition has ended.

The final event was held on Tuesday 14 May. You can read a full account of the day here.

The competition will return for 2025, with the Business School once again partnering with Oxfam.

Keep checking your email and the Student Guide for details about how you can create a team and enter into next years' event!

 

What is involved?

Our competition partner Oxfam will provide a sustainability related brief, centred around real-world issues facing their business.

Participating students will then work in teams of up to four people to conduct their own research and recommend solutions.

Each team will present their findings to a panel of judges comprised of representatives from Oxfam, LUBS and the Leeds University Sustainability Service.

Joining the sustainability competition was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had at the Business School. What I appreciated most from the whole Challenge was the chance to make the solution human centred. Getting out there and talking to people who are "living with the problems" and making actionable solutions.

Hong Ha, 2023 Challenge entrant
Pictured: 2023 winners "EcoNexus"

Why enter the competition?

Not only is the event a lot of fun and a great chance to meet and work with likeminded people; those who hold sustainable values at the core of their business ambitions, there are material and experiential benefits too:

  • The winning Team will attend an Insight Day at Oxfam led by senior managers and the Oxfam Head of Sustainability, as well as the chance to get "hands on" in their textiles recycling facility
  • An exclusive Oxfam Hamper for the winners!
  • The chance to develop your knowledge of sustainability and business practices and work with a high profile international organisation
  • Build your practical skills - research and analysis, problem solving, teamwork, networking, communication & presentation skills
  • Enhance your CV and employability!

An online information event was held on Tuesday 12 March, if you missed out you can download a copy of the slides below:

 

The Oxfam & LUBS Student Business Challenge excites me as it aligns with my passion for environmental sustainability and project management, and offers a chance for students to collaborate with business professionals and make a tangible impact in the field of sustainability.

Aditya Karanjkar, 2024 LUBS Sustainability Architect

Entering as a team or individual

The Challenge is open to all students who are currently pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate (Taught and Research) courses at LUBS.

Teams can comprise up to a maximum of 4 students - who can be from one subject discipline or multi-disciplinary teams across different programmes of study.

Team entries: only one team member needs to complete the form and provide details of all other team members

Individual entries: we will assign you to a team with other students who also entered individually