Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE)
Students in Free Enterprise are changing the world by making a difference in their local communities.
About SIFE
SIFE is a global, non-profit organisation comprised of dedicated teams of students in more than 40 countries around the world. SIFE challenges students to create economic opportunities for others while developing their own leadership, communication and teamwork skills.
Through the development and delivery of community outreach projects, SIFE encourages students to apply the practical knowledge they learn in the classroom while educating others and promoting innovation and enterprise.
SIFE Competitions
Once a year SIFE teams showcase their projects at a National Competition judged by some of the most influential business leaders in Australia including: Arnotts, KPMG, Ernst & Young, Kimberly-Clark, Qantas and Woolworths.
In 2008, the USC SIFE team were semi-finalists at the SIFE Australia Championships, held at the Brisbane Hilton from Thursday 10 July to Saturday 12 July.
2008/ 2009 SIFE Projects
The USC SIFE team has worked on a number of valuable projects including:
- Rai Rai Vinaka (Stage One): November 2007 saw the SIFE chapter of USC organise a trip to a remote community in the highlands of Fiji in collaboration with USC and Sunshine Coast-based adventure tour company, Fiji Dreaming. The purpose of the trip was to assess the possibility of developing an existing accommodation into a small-scale sustainable eco-tourism operation, to the financial benefit of the whole community. Culturally-appropriate workshops were also held with the managers of the existing lodge in order to improve their service, and further develop the site into a profitable eco-tourism operation.
- Rai Rai Vinaka (Stage Two): From July 2008 an ongoing sustainability strategy was developed and implemented in the form of site evaluations. The second expedition marked Stage Two of the Rai Rai Vinaka project. The anticipated outcomes of the Rai Rai Vinaka project were to develop the Fijians entrepreneurial skills, financial literacy and general understanding of business enterprise; to conduct an on and off-site analysis and market research in order to position the resort in a global market and encourage eco-tourism; and also to assist with the construction and implementation of a permanent natural water purification system.
- Eumundi Markets Sustainability Initiative: The 600 stall holders of the Original Eumundi Markets receive over 1 million visitors annually and generate an income of approximately $2 million. The SIFE Team is supporting the Eumundi Markets in developing their new vision of becoming “Australia's lowest ecological footprint market”. Under the new slogan - “refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle”, the team conducted an audit of the garbage usage of stall holders, which will act as a base for the implementation of a new garbage disposal system.
- Campaign Classroom: The USC SIFE team provided local school students with the training and skills needed in order to understand the fundamental marketing theories and concepts to complement their schools business enterprise courses. Students were educated in about the importance of ethical business practices and given the skills needed in order to be successful in business enterprise.
- Business Enterprise Day: The day is an opportunity for successful industry representatives around the Sunshine Coast to reinforce the student’s textbook learning. The Business Enterprise Day attracts approximately 200 Year 9 and 10 business students from secondary schools around the Sunshine Coast. Students are mentored on innovative marketing and promotional strategies through marketing workshops. The overall goal of the day is providing the students with the knowledge and practical examples of how entrepreneurship is integrated into the day to day business environment.
More information
For information visit SIFE worldwide and SIFE Australia or contact:
Melissa Mehonoshen
Industry Liaison Officer
SIFE Facilitator at USC
careerconnection
Tel: +61 7 5459 4822
Mob: 0409 060 793
Email: mmehonos@usc.edu.au
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