Solve The Challenge, Win an Internship
GSA are working in collaboration with Xolvit to give graduate students the chance to solve important issues whilst being in the running to win an internship with Xolvit!
The GSA Xolvit challenge is now closed, thanks to everyone who entered!
Congratulations to our Xolvit Challenge winners!
What is Xolvit?
Xolvit is a crowd sourcing app for student innovation, helping companies to solve social problems.
How does it work?
- Companies create challenges on the app aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development goals in relation to real problems they are facing.
- Students upload their ideas in the form of a 3 minute video pitch to the challenges to win the opportunity to attend an ideation workshop with the companies to help build out their ideas.
- Companies offer internships, prizes and other incentives to students to solve their problems.
The Challenges
1. Affordable Accommodation
Problem: The difficulty international students in Australia face securing affordable, safe housing due to limited on-campus options, high costs, and weak renter protections contributes to financial stress, social isolation, and feelings of insecurity. This combination negatively impacts their mental well-being, potentially leading to anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
Challenge: Develop an innovative concept (e.g. an app, service, program) that tackles at least one of these issues. Your idea can target students, landlords, universities, or a combination.
2. Creative Sustainability
Problem: GSA recognises the urgency of addressing environmental sustainability challenges. We acknowledge the University’s sustainability goals but observe a lack of awareness and engagement among graduate students on these initiatives.
Challenge: Inspired by the University’s “Sustainability Plan 2030” and student-driven initiatives, we present the Melbourne Eco-Challenge: Graduate Edition! Help us to develop and implement innovative solutions that address environmental sustainability within the University or broader Melbourne community.
3. International Student Mental Health
Problem: University students experience high rates of mental health challenges, but stigma and lack of awareness prevent them from utilising the GSA’s wellness programs. This results in underutilised resources and students struggling in silence.
Challenge: Help us to design a creative campaign to break down the stigma surrounding mental health resource utilisation. Encourage graduate students to actively engage with the GSA’s wellness programs. Your idea (e.g., social media blitz, video series, interactive event) should increase awareness and participation, creating a more supportive environment for student mental well-being.
What do you Win?
Your ideas will be selected by a panel of judges nominated by Xolvit. Each winning idea to the three challenges will win a voluntary summer internship with Xolvit where you’ll get to meet industry partners and be involved with projects such as social media campaigns and projects for Xolvit’s corporate clients like Microsoft, IBM, the AFL, Village and others, education and industry events and so much more!!
You’ll also attend an ideation workshop with the Xolvit team and industry partners to help build out your projects!!
You’ll also be in the running to win tickets to the GSA Disco Ball!