Grand Challenges goes Global

This global conference ‘gathers together young people from around the world, helping them make lasting connections to create positive change’ and featured high profile speakers such as Kofi Annan, Richard Branson, and Arianna Huffington. Our students were able to debate the issues and network with 1,250 young people from 190 countries.

The trip was a prize offered by the University of Exeter at the Grand Challenges programme, which brings together students from across the university for an exciting educational and social experience at the end of the academic year. 

The Grand Challenges programme in June 2013 saw first-year undergraduate students from different disciplines work with top academics, industry specialists, social and economic leaders, and politicians with the aim of tackling twelve of the biggest challenges now facing the global population and that align to world class research carried out at the University.   Grand Challenges returns from 2-6 June 2014.

Our One Young World delegates made films and wrote blogs about their experience in South Africa which will be available to view on the Grand Challenges blog which will go live at the Grand Challenges Launch on Monday 28th October.

The real highlight for our students was the opportunity to hear directly from such high profile speakers:

“I feel fortunate that I got to attend an event where so many countries came together for one purpose. There were many great speakers and I was inspired by the number of young people that have done great things all over the world.” said Hannah Theyer. 

However it was hearing from the young delegates as well as the “big names” which really inspired our students to make a change:

“It was impossible not to be moved and inspired by the numerous examples of young people driving positive change. Musician and activist Sir Bob Geldof told us that his generation had ‘failed more than others’ and that it was already our turn to ‘get serious’.” said Joe Osborne. 

More than fifty students are attending the Battle of Ideas event in London on 19-20th October to take part in high-level, thought-provoking, public debate. They were selected by their 2013 challenge teams to represent the University of Exeter and Grand Challenges at this international conference.