Great Global Challenge 2021 – The Hacker Exchange
The Great Global Challenge 2021 organised by The Hacker Exchange (HEX) has been a fantastic opportunity for our students. As a global competition, more than 170+ students from 9 universities competed with each other in 30+ teams. All teams were tasked to find a solution to ensure the protection of human rights in a post-truth world.
We're delighted to announce that our University of Southampton Business School students, Rahul Jain (MSc Business Analytics & Finance) and Cindy Cindy (BSc Business Entrepreneurship), along with their teammates Nilla Kumaran (Monash University) and Kelly Van Roy (City, University of London) won 1st place, scooping 2000 dollars (AUD) and 1:1 start-up coaching with HEX.
Their team proposed a mobile app prototype with integrated A.I. to promote discussion, empathy, and understanding among students. They designed the app Youniversal, conducted market research, made a business strategy, and created a video pitch all within a span of 5-6 days while working across 3 different time zones (Australia, Indonesia and UK).
Rahul Jain said:
"Glad to participate and win the Great Global Challenge 2021 where I represented the University of Southampton. Thank you to the amazing team at Southampton Business School for their support and guidance."
Cindy Cindy added:
“Being accepted as a challenger by Hacker Exchange’s for the Great Global Challenge 2021 and working alongside my amazing team the ‘Passionate Pioneers’ to propose a tech-enabled solution to ‘Protect Human Rights in a Post-Truth World’ in 6 days has been an incredible journey for me as a student.
Despite the challenges of working with my teammates from different disciplines and across time zones (Australia, UK and Indonesia) that are filled with tight deadlines in conducting market research, business strategies and pitch video, We managed to culminate everything by coming in as the 1st place Winner with our pitch for Youniversal: a mobile app with integrated Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence that is designed to provide a safe discussion space for university students in their course to connect with peers who hold opposing opinions.
This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the support and scholarship from the University of Southampton Business School and the Student Exchange Team to join the HEX Great Global Challenge 2021 especially during this challenging time. I truly appreciate the University decision in enriching their students journey by partnering and sponsoring students in experience that will train to lead and help us students, stand out in the virtual talent market in a global platform like Hacker Exchange!”
Dr. Rob Angell (Director of Internationalisation) and Dr. Dorrie Chao (Student Exchange Coordinator) said: “We are huge advocates of this model of learning in the absence of formal international travel. Every student who does this competition just loves it and it sits perfectly alongside our growing portfolio of online short-term, internationally-oriented, experiences.”
There were so many great teams and students that performed outstandingly so, congratulations to all the participants, you all did a great job!