Data to Impact Challenge

Surrey Business School’s Data to Impact Challenge is a competition designed for SBS students to showcase their data analytics skills and innovative thinking. Participants will utilise publicly available data to generate actionable insights and develop impactful innovation ideas addressing specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

Why "Data to Impact Challenge"? 

The Data to Impact Challenge aims to empower Surrey Business School students to leverage data analytics for meaningful contributions toward a sustainable and equitable future. The challenge not only hones students' analytical and innovative capabilities but also instils a sense of responsibility towards global issues. By participating, students become part of a larger movement striving to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, embodying the role of socially conscious future business leaders.

Key objectives

  • Encourage students to apply data analysis techniques to real-world problems
  • Inspire solutions that contribute to achieving the UN SDGs
  • Increase understanding of pressing global issues among future business leaders
  • Provide a platform for students to collaborate and connect with peers and professionals

Alignment with the 17 UN SDGs

Participants are encouraged to focus on one or more of The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Are you passionate about making a difference through data?

Join the Data to Impact Challenge, a competition for Surrey Business School students to apply data analytics skills and innovative thinking towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

SBS Data to Impact Challenge 2024-2025

The social and environmental challenges that the UN SDGs seek to counter require skills in innovation, collaboration and analytical thinking. Competitions such as the Surrey Business School’s Data to Impact Challenge are an ideal way for students to exercise these skills and to generate insights on how we can accelerate the pace of achieving a better and fairer world. Professor Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas, Chair PRME UK and Ireland Chapter

Support and resources

To support your journey, we are offering a series of webinars and info session. We encourage all participants to take advantage of these sessions to enhance their projects and skills. 

Webinar: Understanding the UN SDGs

First webinar on 'Understanding the UN SDGs' by Nathalie Hinds (Surrey Institute for Sustainability), Dr Stelvia Matos (Centre for Social Innovation Management) and Dr Anke Winchenbach (Centre for Sustainability & Wellbeing in the Visitor Economy)

Support panel

Ann Parchment profile image

Dr Ann Parchment

UN PRME Lead

Anke Winchenbach profile image

Dr Anke Winchenbach

Co-Director of Centre for Sustainability and Wellbeing in the Visitor Economy (SWELL)

Stelvia Matos profile image

Dr Stelvia Matos

Director of Centre for Social Innovation Management Research

Iis Tussyadiah profile image

Professor Iis Tussyadiah

Dean, Surrey Business School

Nathalie Hinds profile image

Nathalie Hinds

Director of Operations, Innovation and Partnerships, Institute for Sustainability

Ekaterina Murzacheva profile image

Dr Ekaterina Murzacheva

Head of Digital Economy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Pablo Pereira-Doel profile image

Dr Pablo Pereira Doel

Co-Director of Human Insight Lab

Andy Hill profile image

Dr Andrew Hill

Co-Director of Human Insight Lab

Athina Ioannou profile image

Dr Athina Ioannou

Lecturer in Business Analytics

Tamsin Woodward-Smith

Dr Tamsin Woodward-Smith

ESRC IAA Manager

Publicly available data sources

Participants are encouraged to utilise publicly available data, such as: