Firm launches competition for business and engineering students

Some of the past contestants. Winners get a chance to win a trip to a Global Innovation Summit in Barcelona. [Courtesy]

Sustainable energy solutions firm Schneider Electric is targeting Kenya’s top university students with trips and jobs.

This is as the firm launched "Go Green in the City 2019", its annual global student contest to find solutions for smarter, more energy-efficient and sustainable cities.

"The young generation today face considerable challenges in creating a bright future for themselves,” noted Olivier Blum, Schneider Electric OGlobal Chief Human Resources Officer, adding that achieving a sustainable world future is only possible when young people are empowered become a driving force for innovation.

He added, “I am proud that Go Green in the City has become a platform for students to develop their ideas for a better tomorrow”.

Now in its ninth year, the challenge is expected to be “a major event” for business and engineering students worldwide.

In 2018, over 24,000 young innovators from more than 3,000 universities in 163 countries took part, including 58 per cent women.

“The stakes for Go Green in the City competitors are high. Not only do the competitors get a chance to pitch their solutions, but also get a chance to win a  trip to our Global Innovation Summit in Barcelona--which will bring together Schneider Electric experts and leading industry thinkers to share insights and bold ideas on challenges and opportunities for powering the digital economy,” noted the organisers.

Further, through its internship programme, the winning students will have the opportunity to be mentored by industry experts and ultimately work for Schneider Electric.

In order to take part, teams must be composed of two students attending accredited business, engineering, physics, computer science, mathematics and other science schools.

They have to be from the same country or region where each team should include at least one female member.

“Students are invited to submit their bold ideas in one of four categories of Buildings of the Future, Plants of the Future, Grids of the Future, as well as and Sustainability and Access to Energy”, the firm said.

The deadline for submissions is May 25.

Last year, two Algerian students, Zvirevo Chisadza and Tariro Cynthia Mutsindikwa from Pan African University Institute of Water and Energy Sciences in Algeria, shared their feelings as 2018 Go Green in the City global winners.

“My journey in the competition was such an amazing experience. It all started as a small idea but through the help of the Schneider Electric mentors, it became big and more defined to fight against the world hunger”, said Tariro Cynthia.

“Through the competition, we networked with Schneider Electric experts and had a chance to learn about sustainability challenges in the world”, commented Zvirevo.