The 2024 'Student Doing Good' SDG Challenge was a 1.5day immersive intensive that engage students in shaping the future of urban development for the City of Fremantle. This annual collaborative event, hosted by Murdoch University's Business School and Sustainability team, brought together the four leading (PRME) Western Australian universities i.e., Murdoch University, Curtin University, Edith Cowan University and University of Western Australia; in partnership with (the ‘client’) the City of Fremantle. 

The students were tasked to help inform the City of Fremantle’s Development Plan (2035-2045) by envisioning a thriving and liveable 2045 City of Fremantle as a city that is accessible, green, affordable, and vibrant city that preserves its cultural heritage. This initiative provided a platform for students to contribute innovative ideas to real-world city development challenges and ensured that their ideas could potentially influence actual city planning decisions.

The challenge aligns with the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative, to which Murdoch University, the host institution, was the first Western Australian university to sign up in 2019. This commitment to the SDGs demonstrates the growing recognition of the importance of sustainability in higher education curricula.

The challenge centred on systems thinking, circular economy principles and with a specific focus on five UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), each championed by one and/or all the partnering universities:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth (UWA)
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities (All Universities)
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (Curtin University)
• SDG 13: Climate Action (Edith Cowan University)
• SDG 15: Life on Land (Murdoch University)

Students were also encouraged to address the interconnections among all 17 SDGs through a holistic lens applying the ‘Social Impact Wheel’, ensuring their solutions encompassed sustainability in terms of economic resilience, environmental protection, and social equity.

The event adopted an Open-Source Technology (OST) process, a flexible, participant-driven methodology that promotes open and collaborative problem-solving. Under this approach, students worked in self-organising groups, enabling the free flow of emerging innovative ideas to tackle complex real-world issues.

Day one began with an inspiring opening and introduction by Professor Antonia Girardi, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Murdoch University, followed by a moving ‘Acknowledgment of Country’ by Ash Penfold ‘Corroboree for Life’ reminding participants of the importance of cultural heritage from the heart.

Professor Martin Brueckner Pro-Vice Chancellor Sustainability welcomed students and guests to Murdoch University’s 2014 SDG Challenge, sharing some of its history, since its inception in 2019.

We were then joined remotely by Dr Sandy Chong, President of the UN Western Australia Chapter who encouraged students to immerse themselves into the challenge and take the opportunity to contribute to shaping of their city’s future in an impactful way.

The event keynote speakers included the Hon Dr Bradley William Pettitt (Member of the Legislative Council for the South Metropolitan Region of WA) and Associate Professor Tuguy Esgin (Faculty of Business and Law Dean of Indigenous Engagement, Curtin University), who set the tone for the challenge by emphasising the real-world significance of students' contributions to the City of Fremantle’s development plan.

From City of Fremantle, Kavi Guppta (Community Engagement Partner) and Liam Mouritz (Principal Urban Designer) provided students with insights into Fremantle’s current urban policies, including the ongoing public consultation process. This context helped frame the challenge “How can the City of Fremantle be more accessible, green, affordable, vibrant, and protective of its culture and heritage over the next 10 – 20 years”.

Day two focused on practical, hands-on immersive process where students were able to meet and work with the industry Mentors Vikrant Gorasia, Glenton Moses, Clare Senior alongside the four universities PRME representatives Vesna Sampson (MU), Dilhani Kapu Arachchilage (ECU), Robyn Ouschan (Curtin) and Donella Caspersz (UWA).

Students organised into groups around core themes such as energy, housing, transportation, infrastructure, culture, food security, biodiversity, sustainability, and synergy. They identified relevant sub-themes, developed strategies, and created 3D models using a wide range of resources like Lego, figurines, post-it notes and A0 size city maps. Towards the end, each group prepared a final 5min pitch presenting of their ideas, emphasising how their ideas aligned with the SDGs, systems thinking, and circular economy principles.

The students proposed a range of innovative solutions, including integrated green transportation networks, sustainable energy systems, affordable eco-friendly housing, and biodiversity conservation strategies. The event concluded with presentations to a judging panel of academics, local government officials, and sustainability experts.

The winning team, "Green Is In," focused on biodiversity and were awarded tickets to the prestigious United Nations Gala Awards, held 18 October 2024. This offered the students a platform to be inspired by local community leaders making ‘real world’ impact; alongside whom they were recognised for the importance of connecting the 2024 SDG Challenge initiative towards sustainable development.

In summary, the challenge demonstrated the power of student-led initiatives to address current and emerging urban challenges. It empowered young people to contribute meaningfully to public consultation processes and urban planning while reinforcing the value of integrating SDGs into higher education. The event served as a model for future collaborations between universities and local governments in creating thriving cities for all life and future generations.