The Big Idea is a social enterprise competition for all undergraduate students at participating universities across Australia.

It provides a great opportunity for Murdoch students to develop and demonstrate key employability skills including:

• collaborative team work (across disciplines),
• creative problem solving ability and innovation, 
• effective communication / presentation skills,
• project management, and
• self-awareness / understanding of own strengths and weaknesses

The Big Issue (an independent, not-for-profit organisation that helps to change the lives of homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged people) is hosting The Big Idea competition again this year, together with the support from consulting firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC).

The Big Idea invites students to work in small teams to develop a concept and business plan for a social enterprise. This will be the fourth year running that Murdoch has been involved.  (A Murdoch team previously reached the national finals, read their story here).

Lecturer, Mr Nino Sekyere-Boakye will be supporting the Murdoch teams through the process and is keen for undergraduate students from ALL disciplines to get involved.

Students will have access to a range of live and online sessions delivered by a network of Australia's business and philanthropic leaders.

Other resources include:

• a platform for students to share their questions with Big Issue management and discuss the learning resources between themselves,
• templates for business plans and budget plans, and
• a set of suggested readings about social enterprise and related topics.

Every university will choose a Finalist team who will be invited to present their social enterprise plan to the semi-finalist judging panel. The competition culminates with finalist judging and an Awards Event in late November.

The completition gets underway early second semester, at the South Street campus. It is a great way for students to showcase key employability skills to future employers, as well as possibly make a real difference. Those who are keen to find out more are encouraged to contact Mr Sekyere-Boakye via N.Sekyere-Boakye@murdoch.edu.au.