Following the success of last year’s first ever sustainability challenge that saw 15 MBA teams from Europe, Mexico and Australia come to Exeter, develop and pitch innovative solutions for solving some of the world’s most pressing problems, our 2014 MBA students are now busy organising the second edition.

Last year’s challenge focused on water scarcity – arguably, a major issue that is already impacting on the lives of millions of people around the world. Our corporate partners are this year keen to focus their efforts on recycling and waste management. If you’re wondering why recycling is this year’s theme, it’s probably because you haven’t watched TRASHED, the award winning documentary feature film by Jeremy Irons… so go and watch it!

What does the Challenge involve?

The Sustainability Challenge is partly a conference, partly a “dragon’s den” that will appeal to the most entrepreneurial MBA students who want to go and make a difference out there. The two-day event involves a series of talks led by our corporate partners and NGOs around the theme of recycling and waste management, to be followed by networking opportunities including a gala dinner in the evening. The second day involves MBA teams from around the world competing for the attention of our corporate sponsors and partners. Many of our corporate partners are keenly involved in the Sustainability Challenge, including Coca Cola Enterprises (think about all those plastic bottles that, somehow, need getting rid of) and L’Oreal. Last year, SAB Miller took the Waterwell team (see this post) to India and Coca Cola Enterprises to promote first hand understanding of the problems caused by water scarcity.

Meet the MBA organising team

The 2014 Challenge will take place in our award winning MBA facilities here at Exeter, on 12th and 13th June. As last year, the Sustainability Challenge is a One Planet MBA initiative aimed at contributing to making the world a better place to live. The organising team comprises Alexis, Shuting, Matt, Sandy, John and Jazz – all very smart and enterprising MBA students keen to contribute and make the most out of their MBA through extra-curricular involvement.

Through weekly meetings involving the team, the MBA office and the programme director a lot has been achieved already… but there’s still plenty more to do..!

How you can help

If you’re reading this blog, chances are you can help us in more than one way.

Partners, NGOs and Corporates

You can help us make this event a great success through contributions to conference sessions (How do you manage waste? What about e-waste?). You can also contribute financially to the cost of running this unique two-day event, and our sponsorship packages start at £1,500. That’s very cheap. Opportunities to sponsor coffee breaks and the gala dinner are also available. Get your brand out there and contribute to raising standards in recycling and waste management.

MBA Students

Visit our facebook page for all the latest info as teams of enterprising MBA students are now invited to take part in this unique opportunity to apply your learning and develop a business proposal to be pitched to our partners. This year, all teams will comprise 3 MBA students from the same institution. The registration fee is £100 per team (a bargain!) and includes

• full conference access
• networking opportunities with our corporate partners, partner NGOS, and MBA students from all over the world
• gala dinner
• two-night accommodation in Exeter in a four-star hotel in the centre of the city
• the opportunity to develop a business idea and impress our corporate partners with your business idea; last year’s winning team attracted significant funding from the World Economic Funding to develop a feasibility study.

Want to find out more?

Find out more about the successful 2013 Challenge by downloading last year’s report on our website. Or contact the student organisers of the 2014 Challenge through our Facebook page. You can also follow us on twitter and get up to speed with developments.

Whatever the capacity you’re in, come and join us! All details are on our facebook page and get in touch with the organisers!