For Universities and Schools

Practical experiences aligned to your learning outcomes – that make a difference to the world

Applying academic study and research in practice, brings it to life and cements understanding. Practical experience is of great value to the student. But what if it brought great value to others too?

WE² builds projects and field trips for universities, based around delivering new expertise and insight to charities in the developing world. These projects give students the opportunity to test and apply their academic learning and research into practical and novel situations. In return, the charity receives the insight and expertise that allows it to expand its impact and reach into new areas.

These projects bring practical and life experience to the students, in exchange, for the insight and expertise that the charities need develop and thrive. They are extremely rewarding to both.

The model can be applied to every faculty, discipline and level – Business, IT, Art & Design, Science & Technology, Social Sciences, etc. In a variety of forms including - course electives, consultancy projects, dissertations, internships and volunteering – either remotely and/or briefly in Uganda

WE² can bring the benefit of the practical application of study and research, to make a difference in the developing world.

Benefits

Enhances CSR, public image, academic image and attracts future students
Projects are tailored to academic needs, learning outcomes and timetable
Real world practical experience to complement the student's studies. A microcosm for enterprise & strategy
Projects could provide a platform for dissertations and theses
A strong asset for the students cv and a great discussion point for their job interviews
Minimal academic resources and administration
Minimum cost – WE² is a non-profit Social Enterprise
A complete program devised, managed and implemented
Proven, reliable and repeatable
Continuity and ongoing development between projects
Easily expanded across to other faculties – with your department seen as the pathfinder

“Our partnership with Busoga Trust has become a great asset to the MBA course, giving the students the opportunity to apply their studies and experience to help resolve real world challenges in a development project” Simon Healeas – MBA Deputy Programme Director - Westminster Business School

Our Projects

Past, present and some ideas for future projects here -

How the model has been successfully implemented

Projects currently being developed

How our projects can help charities

An example project

(From an MBA elective)

Situation Overview

Young people in Uganda leave secondary school with good academic results. However, in a primarily rural community they do not have the vocational skills to become economically self-sufficient.

The charity would like to establish a vocational training centre to give students the life, technical and business skills to build their own businesses and so become self-sufficient. This facility needs to be commercially self-sustaining as income from donations is not predictable over the long term.

Deliverables

A feasibility study and budgetary model, making recommendations to the charity on the best approach.

Key considerations

What vocational skills are the most marketable in the specific region?
How can the centre become self-sustaining?
Resource requirements, finance, facilities, staff
Social impact and Government legislation
Collaboration with complementary organisations
Monitoring, evaluation and business reporting
Ongoing review processes to ensure market alignment

Timeline and assessments

At the start of the semester students are briefed on the project

Dialogue established with the Charity in the field
Groups of students are assigned specific elements of the project – finance, social impact, marketing
First group assignment 3000 words submitted prior to departure
- Academic literature review
- Research into similar projects elsewhere in the world, critical success factors etc
- Apply appropriate academic models eg. PESTEL, 5 forces, 4Ps
- Planning and scheduling their time for the field trip

A two week field trip to the charity in Uganda

Initial in-country orientation
Review their findings to-date with the charity
Understand the practicalities and limitations of operating in a developing country
Interview and consult with local stakeholders – community, partners, potential students, schools & universities, local government, companies, customers, etc
Evaluate similar schemes in the region
Present initial findings to the charity

Second group assignment - UK