Thinking Sustainable: Project Week Encourages Students to Develop New Business Ideas

03.04.2025

Activity Joined by 130 Wittenborg Bachelor’s Students in Apeldoorn

To encourage students to reflect on sustainability in business and help them develop relevant skills, Wittenborg recently held a Project Week on this topic in Apeldoorn. Participants were tasked with exploring and developing a sustainable business idea, culminating in the creation of a comprehensive Business Canvas. In doing so, they addressed areas such as renewable energy, waste reduction, sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly products and social enterprises.

A total of 130 bachelor’s students from phases 1 and 2 participated in the activities, working in groups. Each team had to analyse market trends, potential competitors, target audiences and the environmental and social impact of their business. The Business Canvas required detailed sections on key partners, activities and resources, value propositions, customer relationships, channels, customer segments, cost structure and revenue streams.

In addition to preparing a presentation video, students were also required to submit a 3,000-word group report and a self-evaluation form. The 10-minute presentation included the group’s 5-minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of feedback from another team that had been paired with them.

Wittenborg Examinations Manager & Senior Lecturer Lucy Omwoha said that the Project Week’s goal was to help students develop hands-on skills and the ethical consciousness needed for responsible entrepreneurship. “This topic is important since sustainability is a prominent issue in global business today. It was inspiring to watch students work creatively and critically on this issue and develop some innovative and thoughtful business ideas. The teamwork, presentations and commitment indicated intense learning and applicability to the real world,” she highlighted.

Rwandan International Bachelor of Administration (IBA) student Victor Kanyangira Uwizeye commented that he was excited and motivated to participate in the Project Week as a mentor. “I especially enjoyed guiding others and gained more knowledge on how to lead effectively and make decisions that are positive for everyone involved. On top of that, I developed skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, coordinating groups, conducting research and presenting ideas effectively.”

Rosine Cyezuwera, also an IBA student from Rwanda and also a mentor in the Project Week, points out the benefits of activities like this for students: “It allows them to acquire skills that are outside of class and also motivates them to think about what is going on in the real business world, while being part of a team of diverse people.”