The Oxford Strategy Challenge is a team-based experiential learning event with participants taking part in real strategy-focused client challenges over a week. We will run the Oxford Strategy Challenge events six times a year. Our aim is to provide opportunities for participants to boost and demonstrate key employment skills: team working, business awareness, communication, initiative, creativity, planning, leadership and self-management. We do not charge our clients. The students participate in our programmes and use the experience to boost and demonstrate their employability skills.
How the Oxford Strategy Challenge works
Every element of the delivery will present a learning opportunity for our participants. The Careers Service will run an assessment process with an online selection exercise before participants progress to training sessions to prepare them for their project.
The key programme details are:
- The student participate in teams of four
- Two teams will be assigned to each client challenge. Although it is not a formal competition (everyone is a winner!) this format encourages participants to shine
- The client relationship will start with a pre-booked online briefing call on the Thursday and the project will take part through the weekend and teams present their recommendations on the following Wednesday during a pre-booked online presentation call.
Prior to launching a project, we scope an outline of the challenge with the client. The teams will be provided with this and liaise directly with the client over the period of the project. We provide mentoring support to help the teams work through any general or technical queries that may arise.
We encourage our teams to present their recommendations to their client formally as it provides a great opportunity to boost their communication and presentation skills.
2024 Dates
We will run the Oxford Strategy Challenge throughout the academic year and the confirmed activity dates for the autumn term are as follows:
Activity and dates |
November-December Programme |
|
---|---|---|
Projects scoped | Project briefs from clients | By Friday 8 November |
Project work | ‘Meet the client’ online briefing call for teams | Thursday 28 November |
Client available for ‘check-in’ calls/email queries | Friday 29 November | |
Online call when teams make presentation to their client | Wednesday 4 December |
Further programmes are expected to run in 2025. Contact courses@careers.ox.ac.uk for more information.