Following their success in the semi-finals of the competition, a team of Westminster students will take part in the EDI University Business Challenge finals on March 10.
The EDI University Business Challenge is a skills-focused competition for diverse talent which has been designed by EDI in partnership with Microsoft BAME Network. It is based on a live business challenge, set by Microsoft BAME Network, where students work together in teams of five to apply their knowledge and develop solutions to a real-world challenge. The competition allows students to gain experience, develop teamwork and decision-making skills and network with industry leaders.
Thirty-five teams and 18 Universities took part in the initial stage launched last October, where teams were supported by one-to-one sessions with EDI employability experts and two workshops led by Microsoft; one on design-led thinking and the other on presentations skills. Eleven teams progressed to stage two of the competition, which was held in February, where they had to produce a presentation response to the brief and deliver it to a panel of professionals from ASOS. There were also presentations from the Microsoft graduate recruitment team on opportunities at Microsoft.
Talking about the competition, student Esmeralda Blackson said: “This business challenge has truly developed a huge variety of skills that have enhanced my employability. It has made me engage with extremely interesting projects which are relevant in today’s world. I have developed and used conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines by engaging with issues and ideas that have global significance. I have become a better risk taker and critical and creative thinker. Lastly, through the opportunity I have gained a great relationship with my team mates and I am glad to be competing with them.”
Student Jemal Saunders added: “This experience has truly developed a variety of skills for me such as being able to work and communicate in a team effectively under pressure. In addition to this, the experiences also allowed me to improve my critical thinking.”
The team members progressing to the finals on March 10 are Business Management BA Honours students Aisha Nassor and Janne-Eve Augustin, Business Management (Finance) BA Honours students Kamran Khan and Jamel Saunders and Business Management (Marketing) BA Honours student Esmeralda Blackson.
Entry to the competition was fully funded by the Quintin Hogg Trust (QHT), which is a unique source of funding aimed at the advancement of education for Westminster students. Each year the QHT funds a broad range of projects and activities proposed by University staff and students.
Talking about the funding opportunities QHT has provided, Karen Kufuor, Principal Lecturer of Organisations Economy and Society and project lead, said: “This academic year I have been able to expand the real-world opportunities I can offer students across Westminster Business School, thanks to QHT funding. I was delighted to be able to fund five Westminster teams in this competition. The students were all enthusiastic and there was so much real-world learning. Their engagement was superb, and I am so proud of them all.”
Find out more about Business and Management courses at the University of Westminster.
