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 Enrol

The experience

Are you ready for:

... an entrepreneurial challenge?

... a global peer-leadership experience?

... to impact our world?

... to share your wisdom with other changemakers?

If so, enrol for free now. You will be placed in a global team of eight members from six to eight countries. Over three weeks your team will develop a six-page business concept proposal for a profitable venture that addresses a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal using limited capital.

All team members are expected to be peer-leaders - that is taking joint responsibility for team creativity, team productivity, team problem solving, team unity and coaching others to succeed. As a peer-leader you also support your designated team leader in their role to guide the team. If you want the leader role with training check out GEE-Plus.

Learn more through reading the reflections from past peer-leader winners, and checking out our Peer-Leadership Self-Evaluation to understand the qualities that we expect of you.

The top peer-leader wins the University of Otago Business School Champion Global Peer-Leader Award and NZ$1,000 prize money.

 

Enrolment and cost

Enrol here between February 25 and April 16. You may choose to enrol as a single or with a partner. The partner needs to know the first enrolee's email address.

After enrolling, we will ask you to send a brief bio to share with your team members, and complete a five-minute self-evaluation of your peer-leadership skills.

Enrolment to be a team member is free. You receive support and are eligible for awards, prize money, a certificate and letter of commendation.

You can upgrade to the GEE-Plus option for USD 1,210. This gives you a full training programme in leadership and social entrepreneurship, personal one-on-one coaching, priority to lead a global team if you choose, and access to an internationally recognised qualification. Learn more on the GEE-Plus tab.

 

2025 contest dates

At 01:00 GMT on April 30 you will receive details of your eight team members. For three weeks you will work together to develop your proposal to submit by May 21.  

 

Who may enrol

Enrolment is open to anyone in tertiary education, in the workforce, or who is contributing their time to a voluntary organisation. To date 17,700 participants from 900 universities and 440 organisations in 137 countries have taken part. 

This is the 22nd contest. The Global Enterprise Experience won the Intercultural Innovation Award from the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the BMW Group for its global impact on growing leaders who can change our world.

You may wish to invite others to be a team member. Here is a poster, an A3 brochure of the programme, and our Facebook page.

 

How do I become a team leader?

There are four ways you can step up to become the overall team leader:

  1. You are a member of a sponsoring organisation. The team leaders are appointed before the start of the contest and receive training and support.
  2. You enrolled in the GEE-Plus programme for USD 1,210 so receive priority rights to any team leader roles
  3. You are invited to be a co-leader during the contest by your team leader because of your high performance. As a co-leader you will be given access to all of the same materials and support as the leaders.  
  4. Sometimes the designated team leader fails to fire. If so, promptly reach out to the leader to see if there is an issue, offer help, alert the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and keep communicating with your team. You may need to step up to lead the team. If so, let the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. know and you will be given access to all of the leader training and support. 

 

Team proposal

unsdg LogoTeams develop a six-page business concept proposal for a low initial cost venture that profitably progresses a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal. 
 
The topic is deliberately broad, so projects will vary widely such as focusing on poverty, hunger, health, wellbeing, education, clean water, sanitation, energy, environment, inequalities, responsible production and consumption, peace or justice. 
 
The project could be based in a developed or developing country or between countries. You will need to use your creativity to design an innovative project that achieves social goals but is also profitable. Earning a profit ensures the venture is self-sustaining.
 
Learn more through reading the proposals from past winners, the assessment criteria for business concept proposals, and the rules of the contest. 
 
 
Peer-leadership reflection and feedback

Write a reflection of your Global Enterprise Experience highlighting your peer-leadership including giving and receiving coaching. The reflection is under 1000 words and due on May 25. Judges are more interested in your insight, effort, and stretch outside your comfort zone than excellence. Check out the requirements for the peer-leader reflection, and the assessment criteria for peer-leadership awards. 

Take 15 minutes to complete your 360° online anonymous feedback of the peer-leadership contribution of your eight team members by May 25. Those winning awards write thoughtful feedback for their colleagues. You will receive your team members' feedback of you in early June.

 

Make your team idea happen 

If you are looking to become a social entrepreneur, and are keen to make your team's project happen in your country, then you may wish to apply for the New Venture Award by May 25. The winner will receive NZ$4,000 to help get the venture started.  You will be emailed your personal link to submit an application. See the past winning projects. 
 
 
Awards

Victoria University of Wellington Champion Global Team - NZ$500 for each team member

Windeaters Champion Global Leader - for those designated as a leader at the outset

University of Otago Champion Global Peer-Leader - NZ$1,000 - for those who started the contest as a team member

Windeaters New Venture Award - NZ$4,000 seed money for an individual to make their team's project proposal happen

New Zealand Police Be Safe, Feel Safe Awards - for proposals that address policing UN SDGs.

Certificate and Letter of Commendation - For all completing participants

Microcredentials - Only GEE-Plus enrolees are eligible, issued by Victoria University of Wellington 

Only those who have their name on the team proposal, and submitted their personal reflection and 360° feedback on time are eligible for any awards, certificates or letters of commendation.

 

Award ceremonyParliament NZ Coaching Award

The 2025 award ceremony will be held in New Zealand's parliament on June 26 and live streamed from 6:10pm NZ time. New Zealand participants represent their overseas colleagues. The GEE organiser will send you your awards, prize money and recognition.

Timeline Team Member