October 13, 2016, by Liz Cass
Students solve politicians’ problems in Parliament
Business and social science students from Nottingham Trent University will be going to Parliament later this month to solve challenges faced by society and identified by MPs.
This political version of the University’s unique Thinkubator Challenge® is being held on 25 October as part of Nottingham in Parliament Day – a one-day takeover of Westminster to showcase the businesses, institutions and people that make Nottingham great.
Around 40 students will collaborate to solve problems pitched to them on the day by politicians. The challenges will fall under the three themes of social mobility, industrial strategy, and transport.
The students will have just two hours to thrash out their ideas from both business and political perspectives before they present their solutions to a VIP audience in the Churchill Room of the House of Commons.
Nottingham Trent University Vice-Chancellor Professor Edward Peck said: “Nottingham Trent University is located in the very heart in the City of Nottingham. As such, it is appropriate that this Thinkubator Challenge® is a central event in the programme of Nottingham in Parliament Day. It is an excellent opportunity to showcase to a predominantly London business and political audience the amazing talents of our students who so often win national and international prizes. This event will also highlight the forward-looking approach of Nottingham Trent University to tackling head on some of the key challenges facing our society.”
Baback Yazdani, Dean of the University’s Nottingham Business School which runs the annual Thinkubator Challenge®, was behind the idea to adapt it for this political venue.
“Nottingham Business School’s Thinkubator Challenge® has proven since its launch that it really can bring young business brains together to solve companies’ challenges, from recruitment issues to marketing strategies. With this event, we want to show the approach can apply to issues which affect policy makers too. Bringing in School of Social Sciences’ students will create a perfect opportunity for students of different disciplines to collaborate and gain valuable experience through presenting to a VIP audience within the iconic venue of the House of Commons.”
While the students are busy grappling with the politicians’ problems, the University will run a roundtable discussion on Women in Leadership. It will be hosted by Baroness Diana Warwick, who has been a member of the House of Lords since 1999. Baroness Warwick, a member of the Board of Governors at Nottingham Trent University, spent 14 years as Chief Executive of Universities UK, responsible for representing the interests of 130 universities to government, the media, the public and internationally. Speakers for the roundtable event include Judy Naake, High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and founder of the St Tropez tanning brand and Sue Fish OBE QPM, Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police.
The event is being supported by Nottinghamshire MPs Sir Alan Meale MP, Vernon Coaker MP, and Gloria De Piero MP.
To find out more about Nottingham in Parliament Day visit the website and sign up for events.
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