Oxford Brookes University Master’s students drive innovation during Business Challenge Week

Postgraduate students at Oxford Brookes Business School worked with businesses to address real-world issues as the University hosted its annual Business Challenge Week.

The event was hosted by Oxford Brookes Business School (OBBS) from 17 June to 21 June. Forty-five students took part, including 12 from the University of Regensburg in Germany, a partner institution of Oxford Brookes. 

The students collaborated with businesses to develop strategies and recommendations, culminating in a final showcase at the University's Headington Campus.

Dr Karla Zimpel-Leal,  Senior Lecturer in Innovation and Enterprise at Oxford Brookes Business School, who organised the event, explained: “Business Challenge Week encompasses an intensive week of multidisciplinary consultancy-style projects, an exciting opportunity for our postgraduate students to tackle real-world challenges head-on, make a tangible impact, gain invaluable problem-solving experience and dive into a world of interdisciplinary challenge projects with our partner organisations.”

Some of the businesses involved included BioBright, an Essex-based business that assists maritime industries in reducing CO2 emissions, and also Leicester-based X&Y Fertility which offers a wide range of diagnostic tests and fertility treatments.

Vanessa Giorgia Barzasi, Co-Founder and CEO of BioBright, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for BioBright to participate in Business Challenge Week. The students impressed us with their diverse skills in finance, law, marketing, and international business management. In just three days, they achieved remarkable results and provided valuable insights that helped us assess the viability of entering the Canadian market.”

Bryan Woodward, CEO of X&Y Fertility, said: “This was a great opportunity to meet a team of young, enthusiastic students to come together to pitch a solution to a problem in such a short period of time. It’s amazing. Enthusiasm was great. Absolutely delighted with the final project.”

Sabike Tahmasebi, who is studying for an MSc in Management and Business Analytics at Oxford Brookes, said: “Coming up with a quality marketing strategy in less than a week was a supreme challenge, but working with a team of students made the week less intense, coupled with the support of our mentors, who ensured that stress and frustrations were adequately managed with the end goal in sight. Delivering a workable solution to a real-life client made the entire week worth it. We gained invaluable experience and opportunities to network with fellow students and business owners.”