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Bowater Business Challenge

An opportunity to develop your problem-solving skills, graduate employability and industry networks, and maybe win some cash.

Bowater Business Challenge

The Deakin Bowater Business Challenge (DBBC) is a fun and exciting competition open to all Deakin business and law students. A postgraduate challenge is held in Trimester 1 and an undergraduate challenge in Trimester 2.

2023 Undergraduate Bowater Business Challenge

Working in teams of four, students will research and develop a presentation on the future of a selected industry.

This year’s DBBC theme is ‘Fully Promoted Expansion Strategy: Customise or standardise'.

The competition is a great opportunity to develop your problem-solving skills, graduate employability, and industry networks. And who knows, you might even impress a potential employer!

Prize pool

A prize pool of $5000 is generously sponsored by the Bowater Trust.

  • First prize $2000
  • Second prize $1500
  • Third prize $1000
  • Fourth prize $500

Eligibility

The DBBC is open to all current undergraduate Deakin business and law students enrolled in Trimester 2 2023.

How it works

As the competition is open to all undergraduate business and law students, we encourage you to have a diverse team made up of different courses, majors and backgrounds. You can also apply individually and be placed into a team by the organisers.

Registered teams attend a briefing session to understand the challenge and then compete in a preliminary round to demonstrate their innovation and problem-solving skills. Each team will give a 10-minute oral presentation to a judging panel via Zoom. Four teams are then chosen from the preliminary round to participate in the ultimate final. The four finalist teams will be assigned an academic mentor to support them in the lead up to the final submission.

Timeline

DateEvent
Monday 31 JulyStudent/team application closing date.
Wednesday 2 AugustTeam members confirmed.
Friday 4 August, 10am–12 noon

Briefing session via Zoom – 2 hours

  • Fully Promoted provides 15-20 minute Challenge outline to all competing teams and facilitates Q+A.
  • Key academics will cover areas of Challenge focus
  • Eg:  Marketing, economics, finance etc.
Thursday 24 August

Preliminary round

  • Teams to deliver 10 minute presentation with 5 minutes of Q+A.
  • Judging panel will consist of Deakin business and law academics.
  • Teams are not permitted to hear presentations from competing teams.
Friday 25 August

Announcement of the four finalist teams

  • Four finalist teams will be assigned an academic mentor.
Friday 1 September, 11am–12 noon

Site visit

  • Four finalist teams attend a site visit with academic mentors and staff
Thursday 14 September, 2–5pm

Challenge final

  • Four finalist teams to present to judging panel and audience of students, staff and guests.
  • Judging panel will consist of a Fully Promoted company representative, Deakin academic and Bowater Trust member.
  • To be held at Deakin's Burwood Corporate Centre.
  • Networking over canapes after finalists present.
  • Winning team announced on night.

Past events

Contact us

If you have any queries about the Bowater Business Challenge please get in touch.