The Lens
Students helping the world through practical projects
From Brazil, to Ireland to Malawi, here's how students are making a positive impact through real-world projects.
By Chloë Lane
“The opportunity to collaborate closely with professionals who are deeply committed to nurturing impact businesses and guiding entrepreneurs was truly enlightening."
Social responsibility is a key focus for businesses globally, with many businesses now striving to establish a purpose beyond profit. In fact, two-thirds of CEOs believe that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is core to their business strategy, according to a study by productivity software firm Zipdo .
Similarly, business schools are increasingly embedding social responsibility into their MBA curriculum, either by introducing new sustainability programmes – such as Michigan Ross’ recently announced ESG concentration – or by encouraging students to take part in practical projects that have a positive societal impact.
Take, for example, the Responsible Leaders Fellowship, an initiative launched by Germany’s ESMT Berlin which allows successful graduates to volunteer pro-bono for up to six months at a social impact organisation in emerging areas of the world.
It focuses on the concept of ‘paying it forward’, emphasising the belief that with managerial power comes responsibility. Part of that responsibility is to consider the consequences of your actions on society and to be aware of global challenges.
‘Paying it forward’ social initiatives
Brazil
ESMT MiM graduate, Tudor Dima, took part in the fellowship to deepen his understanding of impact businesses and explore diverse ESG business models. He worked with 2.5 Ventures, an organisation that’s part of the national ‘Coalition for Impact’ project, which fosters the growth of impact businesses across six major Brazilian cities.
Within 2.5 Ventures, Tudor’s role had three parts: researching the development of a new platform, refining internal processes and establishing strategic partnerships.
Since the project’s inception in October, Tudor has been exposed to innovative business models that foster sustainable solutions in vulnerable areas, such as tackling issues from water conservation and introducing services in previously underserved communities.
“The opportunity to collaborate closely with professionals who are deeply committed to nurturing impact businesses and guiding entrepreneurs was truly enlightening,” he says.
The project greatly heightened Tudor’s awareness of societal and environmental issues and completely transformed his perspective, accelerating his learning and sharpening his career objectives. “It’s motivated me to continue my path within the impact industry,” he reveals.
Ireland
Over in Ireland, Trinity Business School graduate, Rebecca Murphy, who previously worked on the project as a research intern, led 20 Trinity College Dublin (TCD) students in the Uforest project.
This EU-wide project is a public-private partnership with 12 European partners – four of which are universities – that aims to increase knowledge about Urban Forestry and the negative effects of climate change on urban environments.
TCD’s project was the ‘Darndale Doughnut’, a plan to plant 3,000 tree whips in Darndale park with the help and support of the local community.
“Being involved on the day was a great opportunity to see how three years of work on the Uforest project had come to fruition,” she says. “From my time at university, I was aware of the benefits of social and environmental projects, but to see it put into action was quite impressive."
Student start-ups
France
For some students, a compulsory social impact project, such as the one in ESSEC and Mannheim’s joint Executive MBA, is an excellent opportunity to develop their own businesses.
One of the students at ESSEC Business School in France, Victor Magaud, used the project to found Phytopolis, a start-up that designs above-ground urban greening furniture. The company developed the concept of ‘arboricomposting’, which makes it possible to make concrete areas greener by planting fruit trees.
As a scholarship holder living in the suburbs, Victor witnessed the increasing concretisation of cities and the difficulty of eating healthy food. Originally from the French countryside, he disliked the lack of nature, but loved the frenzy of the big city.
Inspired by practices used in the Sahel-Saharan region to grow trees in challenging environments, Victor and his team developed a device that enables them to plant directly in the middle of compost piles, taking advantage of the nutrients produced by the decomposition of organic matter to ensure the plant's growth.
“I made it my mission to bring nature back to the city. And if I could kill two birds with one stone by offering people free access to fruit by planting fruit trees, even better,” he says.
Photo courtesy of Dr Mary-Lee Rhodes at Trinity Business School
Netherlands
This idea of collaboration to create positive societal change is echoed by the Young and Bold Foundation, founded by one of Nyenrode Business University’s professors, Dr Désirée van Gorp.
The foundation’s mission is to create a digital ecosystem where professionals, students and other stakeholders can work together to solve social impact issues. The foundation runs programmes, campaigns and events that help students build leadership skills and establish a network of allies to help them make a lifelong impact.
Malawi
Students at Norway’s Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) run the humanitarian organisation, NHH Aid, which fundraises for UNICEF's 'Education for Malawi’ project. The aim is to remove barriers that keep children in Malawi from getting an education and make sure they have access to an adequate learning environment.
To raise funds and awareness, NHH Aid hosts an annual Action Week in which they organise a charity run, quiz night, dodgeball tournament and an auction.
“The project pushed me to grow — learning to lead, organise, communicate and understand global challenges like access to education,” says Mathilde Jentoft, an economics and business management student at NHH and leader of NHH Aid. “It's been an invaluable part of my personal and professional development, and the highlight for me is seeing the effects of our work in Malawi.”
Germany
Responsibility is one of the core values of the German-based Mannheim Business School. That’s why the social class project is an integral part of its MBA programmes.
“These social class projects are done in close cooperation with social, charitable and ecological organisations in the local Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region,” says Professor Dr Jens Wüstemann, Mannheim Business School’s President. “Students apply the knowledge, methods and skills learned during their studies. International participants gain even deeper insights into German culture.”
Previous projects have included planting trees to combat climate change, working with socially disadvantaged children and developing ways to reduce food waste. One class even wrote and designed a children’s book to raise children’s awareness of diversity and social cohesion.
United States
The Hult Prize is an entrepreneurship competition that challenges young people to solve the world's most pressing issues through social entrepreneurship. Students create start-ups which solve a social issue, competing for a $1 million prize.
One of last year’s finalists, Graff, a start-up from a team of students at Hult International Business School, created a sustainable alternative to plastic that can use both within and beyond the fashion industry. ‘Texterial,’ is made by absorbing and converting textile waste, which would otherwise end up in landfills or be incinerated.
Rikita Lakdawala, Co-founder, CEO and CFO for GRAFF, says: “The shocking revelations about the industry's contribution to polluting our planet became a driving force behind our commitment to finding sustainable solutions.
“While creating Graff, I gained a deeper understanding of the UN’s SDGs and the role that businesses can play in addressing them. This informed our project and influenced my personal choices, instilling a deeper sense of environmental responsibility.”
Student consultancy projects
Another way students can gain valuable experience while giving back to society is by acting as consultants to companies which have a strong CSR focus.
Several prestigious higher education institutions, including Kings College Business School, HEC Paris and Imperial College London, are part of 180 Degrees Consulting – the world’s largest university-based consultancy for non-profits and social enterprises.
Students volunteer their time to partner with non-profits and social enterprises to provide innovative, practical and sustainable solutions to the challenges they face.
Portugal
Similarly, Porto Business School in Portugal offers a Business Impact Challenge as part of their International MBA. This one-week, faculty-led, immersive programme in a city of major multinationals, tech start-ups, luxury retail and NGOs, allows students to solve complex business problems and gain hands-on experience in a real business environment.
UK
At Sheffield Business School (SBS), challenge-based learning is deeply embedded into the curriculum. Students frequently act as consultants for local, national and international companies, working with them to find solutions to real business problems.
Dr Michael Benson, the professor at Sheffield responsible for Business Engagement, Student Employability and Apprenticeships, says: “Within the Consultancy Project, Sheffield Business School collaborates with external organisations from across all business sectors, and cross-disciplinary teams work together to replicate real-world team working.”
In a recent project, SBS students worked with a large logistics firm to help them develop a sustainable packaging product in response to new legislation in the UK. The students were tasked with devising a solution that not only complies with the regulations but also overcomes commercial and environmental obstacles.
Kat Williams, a student on the project, says: “The project was fulfilling as we tackled real logistics challenges by creating a sustainable bag from clothing offcuts.
“Having the opportunity to be a part of something both innovative and rewarding has helped to fuel my passion for creating positive change through practical projects.”