Over the nine years that Australia has participated in the Global Enterprise Challenge (GEC) we have shown by the quality of our results, being consistently in the top four, that our students are world class contenders. Now with Team Australia, the students from Earnshaw State College QLD, taking out first place in this year’s Global Enterprise Challenge, against teams from 13 countries, we are no longer the contenders, now we are the Champions.
Following on from Launceston Church Grammar School winning the Mini GEC against the world in Toronto in April, Earnshaw’s win puts the icing on the cake for Australia in 2010.
The GEC asks students to solve some of the world’s most challenging social, economic or environmental problems, this year’s Challenge was;
‘It is two decades from now and the world is a very different place from the one we inhabit today. Your Challenge is: To produce a working model of an innovative game for a family of four (2 adults + 2 children aged 8-12) that addresses the issues and challenges facing the world in 2030.’
Once the teams were given the challenge, they had to define the issues, come up with a solution in the form of a game concept, create the game, develop a prototype, put together a business plan with costing to reproduce and distribute the game to a global market, then explain their solution to a panel of local judges via a two page word document, four screen PowerPoint presentation and a three minute video presentation, all elements to be completed within the 24hour time period.
To be selected to represent Australia schools competed in The ABW GEC Qualifier, which saw some of the best and brightest high school students from 10 schools qualify to participate in the Australian leg of the GEC. From this group 4 schools, Mount Scopus Memorial College, Victoria, Figtree High School, NSW, Hunter Valley Grammar School, NSW, and Earnshaw State College, Queensland, went on to compete in the 24-hour business challenge held in June, where Earnshaw State College was selected in a closely fought contest, as the best team to represent Australia in the international challenge.
The international judges awarded First Place to Australia, Second Place to Japan and Third Place to Wales. To view the international site go to http://gec2010.suryainstitute.org/home/index.php
More information about the Australian competition can be found at www.globalenterprisechallenge.com.au
