Let students think about challenges relevant for society.
We match Ghent University teaching staff who are looking for challenges and assignments relevant for society to use within education with regional and international organizations, governments and companies. Their challenges and problems provide a realistic context which can offer students valuable experiences.
For organizations
Give your challenges or assignments to students and help them to develop valuable skills in a realistic context.
You submit the challenge or assignment only once while reaching several teachers. Adjust your submission to the needs of teachers by taking a look at the ads.
For teaching staff
Let organizations know what you are looking for so they can provide suitable challenges or assignments.
By using our communication, your ad will also reach organizations from different sectors which allows for a multidisciplinary approach.
For students
Take a look at the list of submissions and be inspired by the challenges and assignments.
If you see an interesting submission we will bring you and the professor in contact with the right contact person in the organization.
What are we looking for?
Every academic year lots of students are working on projects during their studies at Ghent University. These enable them to have a positive impact on our society.
We are looking for organizations who want to invest in the future by offering students valuable learning opportunities in a realistic context, in exchange for a fresh look on their problems.
We make a distinction between wicked problems, challenges and assignments. Read more about each type below.
Wicked problem
Wicked problems allow student to dive deeper in the problem at hand and look for subproblems for which they can come up with new ideas and concepts. The end result can be different from the initial question.
There might not be a concrete return for your organisation, but you encourage students to think about the topic. These problems can lead to solutions that the students can put in the market themselves.
For example: ‘How can we make sure everyone feels at home in our education system?’ or ‘What if the sea reaches Ghent?’
Challenge
Challenges define the problem or challenge at hand, but allow students flexibility to look for solutions from different perspectives. Students will not dive deeper in the problems like they do with wicked problems, but there is more freedom to come up with diverse solutions compared to the assignments.
The solution can be valuable for your organisation, but can also divert from your organization’s plans.
For example: ‘How can we make sure that assembly line workers no longer get wrist injuries?’ or ‘How can people with a mental disability cycle by themselves in traffic?’.
Assignment
Assignments limit the problems and expect a concrete solution. What the solution looks like and which features it have can differ, but what it is (a website, smartphone app, device, circuit, marketing or business plan, …) is defined.
The result is useful for your organization, although it might need some more changes before it is finalized. Pure operational work without learning opportunities is not allowed (e.g. student jobs).
For example: ‘Make a marketing plan for a new food product.’ or ‘Develop a smartphone application that help us to keep track of the score during our matches.’.
What’s the process?
The process consists of 5 steps where Call for challenges supports the matchmaking aspect. There are no deadlines or limitations, but keep in mind that most classes are looking for topics at the start of the semester (June – September and December – February).
Submit your challenge, problem or ad
Teaching staff submits an add in which they announce what they are looking for for their course or project.
Organizations go through the ads before they make a submission.
We put it online
We put the information online We do this manually at the moment, so it can take a couple days.
You will be notified if everything is Ok and online.
Looking for a match
Organizations, teaching staff and students can look for matches the whole year.
You only see the active submissions and ads.
Potential match found
If you see a potential match you contact us via the button on the page. We bring you in contact with the right people and will be able to provide a good follow-up.
One on one discussion
Teaching staff and organization discuss further details amongst themselves. We provide support in case of questions, problems or when agreements are needed. We remove the ad or submission if needed.