Unbound
  • Programs
    • Virtual Global Program
    • Global University Programs >
      • Vietnam: Sustainable Development
      • Nepal: Global Challenges
      • Thailand: Design for Social Change
      • India: Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation & Culture
      • Fiji: Social Enterprise & Sustainable Development
    • STAMP
    • Resources >
      • Funding
      • Preparing for Your Program
      • FAQ
  • About
    • About Us
    • Blog
    • Past Programs
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Unbound Ideas
  • Contact
  • Apply

Global Social Impact Program
Semester One Program + Winter Program, 2021
​Virtual Mode
​
for Student Leaders, Innovators and Change Makers

Apply Now!
Gain professional experience, work on a real-world social or environmental challenge, collaborate with innovators from across the Asia-Pacific, and have a lot of fun while doing it.

Program Overview:

The Unbound Global Social Impact Program is an engaging program connecting students with the Asia Pacific region on real world multidisciplinary projects.

This exciting program has strong links with innovators, social entrepreneurs and leaders across the region, and a chance to learn from, and with, inspiring role models. With a focus on cultural exchange and group projects this experience isn’t your usual Zoom course – with cooking classes, global speakers and mentors, and a chance to get hands-on with a real project. 

This program is delivered online (with some optional face-to-face activities, subject to coronavirus restrictions) and is a chance to gain professional and cross-cultural skills in a fun and interactive way.

Picture
Picture
Picture


Program Details

​Eligibility
This program is open to Australian university students from all disciplines. There are no pre-requisites or prior experience needed.

Delivery
This program is delivered entirely online with optional meetups in Australia (subject to COVID restrictions). The projects link to Unbound's partners across the Asia-Pacific region.

​Cost
This project has been designed in collaboration between Unbound and the host universities, in line with the New Colombo Plan (NCP) initiative coordinated by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and supported with NCP Mobility Grants.

The full cost of this program is: AUD$2,500.
​

This program is a fully-funded program, without costs for participating students.
These grants cover the full cost of this initiative, and there are no further program costs for eligible students. Eligibility for these scholarships include receiving academic credit, being an Australian citizen and other requirements as outlined by your Learning Abroad office.

We also have some full scholarships available for some students, who may not be eligible for this funding. Please get in contact if you're not able to receive NCP funding.

Academic Credit
This program has been designed for academic credit in collaboration with our university partners. Check with us or your Learning Abroad office for details. This program is approved for 80 hours of Engineering Work Experience.
Duration
  • Semester One Program - 6 weeks (evenings / part time mode)
  • ​Winter Intensive Program - 2 weeks (3 days per week / intensive mode)

These programs are delivered online (Zoom) and designed to be completed alongside normal university studies.

Dates and Timing

Semester One Program: 12 April - 20 May, 2021
  • Monday, Thursday: 6pm - 7.30pm

Winter Intensive Program: 5 - 16 July, 2021
  • Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 10am - 3pm


Applications
To apply for this program please visit: www.unbound.edu.au/apply
  
Semester One Program – 11.59pm on 5 April, 2021
Final Round (January Program) – 11.59pm on 25 June, 2021

 
Note that your university may also have its own application timelines for program applications and scholarships – check with your Learning Abroad office for more information. There are a limited number of program places and scholarships, so early applications are strongly encouraged.

Professional Development / Action Project

​At the core of this program is the chance to work in student teams on a real world Action Project – a chance to bring ideas to life.

Working in a small multidisciplinary group (3 or 6 students), students will have the chance to collaborate on the design and development of practical project. This Action Project is connected with our partner organisation (below) could vary from the design of a social enterprise, a campaign, a creative piece, or an educational program. This project frames the topic, and provides an opportunity for students to focus and explore topics as they undertake site visits, guest lectures, community homestays and cultural activities. The Action Projects are presented on the final day of the program. This aspect of the program provides the opportunity for teamwork, creative problem solving, multi-disciplinary collaboration and project management.
Picture
Nepal - Innovation by Design

Abari is an award-winning design and architecture firm who has the driving belief that business doesn't have to choose between people and planet. Using environmentally friendly design using earth and bamboo, they are leading a new way of working to create beautiful spaces that don’t cost the earth. Their work has been particularly impactful as they’ve support the rebuilding of schools after the devastating Gorkha Earthquake. They are leaders in design, creativity and sustainability.
 
Potential Projects:
  • Bamboo in Action – Bamboo is a remarkable material – sustainable and strong. While Abari have used this in building, furniture and toys – what other products could this be used for to increase livelihoods and improve sustainability?
  • Sustainable Mobility – Cars, motorbikes and buses have a real environmental cost in terms of carbon emissions and air quality – particularly in a place like Kathmandu. Can we sustainably design and build alternatives? Think bamboo bikes, scooters that are powered by humans or electric power – rather than fossil fuels.
  • Education for All – Schools in rural Nepal do not have the same resources as bigger schools in the capital cities or Australia. Can we design build and test school learning tools that can be open-sourced, made locally, and help close the educational divide?
India - Startups and Social Enterprise

​Tribes for Good considers themselves to be ‘crazy optimists’ and is directly connected with India’s real world challenges from sustainable fashion to social entrepreneurship; from gender welfare to poverty alleviation. They provide a platform for people to connect to these issues and work alongside and with people making a real impact.

Potential Projects:
  • Social Enterprise – How can business play a role in addressing social challenges? What viable businesses can we start that can solve a project here, or in the Indian context, or both?
  • Women Leadership – Gender issues are important in both India and Australia, from menstrual health and busting taboos, to increasing women’s participation in business and leadership. What can we do to move the needle on this issue?
  • Travel for Good – When travel resumes, how can we ensure that we have positive impact for the communities and places we visit? What does ethical engagement really look like?
Picture
Picture
​Thailand - Human-Centred Design

​Happy Grocers is a social enterprise that aims to connect Thailand’s Organic products to the right market as a way to support Thai farmers and create healthy consumers. The organisation has a focus on sustainability, community development, design, marketing, social enterprise, food and agriculture and works to create something far beyond simply selling basic products

Potential Projects:
  • Marketing Challenge – As a new business, how can Happy Grocers reach more people using online tools? From local to expat communities, what design, outreach and digital improvements can they make to take their business to the next level?
  • Organic Certification for Farmers – Getting organic certification is a challenge and administratively difficult process. How can we support farmers to navigate this documentation using technology, tools and mobile applications?
  • Solar Water Pumping – Water is key for farming and moving water can be a challenge in rural environments. What solar pumping systems could be used to support Happy Grocers partner farms?
Vietnam - Sustainable Development Goals

Knowmads Hanoi is a leading social impact organisation that aims to, “empower young people to create positive impact, by organising, designing and facilitating learning processes”. With a focus on values they have facilitated leadership programs for individuals that seek to discover who they are and how they can create positive impact in the world. The team is based in Hanoi, a vibrant city with long cultural history and an emerging hub for sustainable innovation.
 
Potential Projects:
  • UN Sustainable Development Goal Challenge – How can we in Australia, and our partners overseas collaborate to achieve the 17 UN SDGs? What projects can be applied in both locations?
  • Education Innovation – The world faces some global challenges with COVID-19, educational inequity, and the need for new skills. What innovations for education can we create that recognises the new world we’re moving into?
  • Youth Engagement – Youth will play a key role in shaping the future, and the time for engagement and empowerment is now. What can we do to help young people recognise their potential and be leaders for social impact.
Picture

Program Structure and Activities

Expert Session
These sessions are live and interactive classes with expert innovators from across the Asia-Pacific region sharing their own professional experiences. The organisations featured are outlined in the sections below. These sessions will include presentations featuring images and video; a site ‘tour’, interactive questions and answers and facilitated discussion. Access and engaging with some of the world’s leading social innovators.
  
Workshops
These sessions are interactive workshops, led by Unbound’s expert facilitation team and focus on student-focussed skills and experiences. With case studies and informed by best-practice these sessions will cover practical tools, personal development and technical skills for working cross-culturally and on social impact projects. Project topics include: human-centred design methodologies; communication and storytelling; business models and social enterprise; and more.
 

Program Coordinator

Picture
​Julian O’Shea is an experienced educator, social entrepreneur and humanitarian engineer with a passion for innovative international education programs. He holds qualifications in engineering, business and management and has run international training programs across Vietnam, Fiji, Thailand, India, Cambodia, Kuwait, Nepal, Samoa and more. His work in international education and research has seen him receive some prestigious awards including being named Young Australian of the Year for South Australia and the Commonwealth Youth Award for Excellence in Development (Pacific Region). An experienced traveller, he has lived, worked and travelled in over 150 countries across six continents and has set multiple Guinness World Records for his sustainable travel adventures.
Picture

Applications

To apply for this program please visit: www.unbound.edu.au/apply
  
​Applications Close
Semester One Program – 5 April, 2021
Winter Program – 25 June, 2021
Apply Now

​​Got questions? We have answers! Get in touch with our team and find out more.

Julian O'Shea (Program Coordinator)
​julian@unbound.edu.au
0400260565

GLOBAL STUDY
​PROGRAMS

UNBOUND

About Us 

MORE INFORMATION

Events​
Funding and Scholarships
​Preparing for your Program

FAQ
contact us
Apply now
Built in Melbourne, Australia.
​Proudly a social enterprise.
​© Copyright 2020
  • Programs
    • Virtual Global Program
    • Global University Programs >
      • Vietnam: Sustainable Development
      • Nepal: Global Challenges
      • Thailand: Design for Social Change
      • India: Entrepreneurship, Social Innovation & Culture
      • Fiji: Social Enterprise & Sustainable Development
    • STAMP
    • Resources >
      • Funding
      • Preparing for Your Program
      • FAQ
  • About
    • About Us
    • Blog
    • Past Programs
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Unbound Ideas
  • Contact
  • Apply