TU Dublin Huawei Business Sustainability Enterprise Challenge

Published: Thu Jan 29 2026 - 15:55

• Module: Business Sustainability (BSMT400) 
• Programme: 3rd and 4th Year BSc Business and Management  
• School: Marketing and Entrepreneurship 
• Number of students:175 
• TLA Category: In-class Activity, Research Assignment, Client or Community based analysis eg live case analysis, Creation of an artefact (physical or digital) e.g. poster, infographic, podcast, social media content, video etc, Event 
• Find out more:  Dr Ciarán O'Carroll, Dr Lesley Murphy,  Niamh O'Hora 

The TU Dublin Huawei Business Sustainability Enterprise Challenge is a collaborative initiative between Huawei Ireland and TU Dublin’s Enterprise Academy, designed to engage students in addressing sustainability challenges through business solutions. The competition involved 175 students from the School of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, the School of Management, People and Organisations, and exchange students from EM Normandie. 
 
Over a three-month period, students worked on developing business cases focused on solar PV and battery storage solutions for different industries in Ireland. Their work was aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provided practical insights into sustainability leadership and technological innovation. 

Deliverables included: 

• Business case proposals aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Posters summarising key findings and recommendations.
• Presentations to Huawei judges with industry-specific insights.

The project demonstrated the power of challenge-based learning, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and industry collaboration. It was facilitated by Dr. Lesley Murphy and Dr. Ciarán O’Carroll in partnership with Huawei and TU Dublin’s Enterprise Academy. 

The challenge culminated in a poster presentation and awards ceremony on December 10, 2024, where students showcased their projects to Huawei representatives. The winning teams developed solutions for the healthcare sector (hospitals), the dairy industry, and retail applications of solar energy. The initiative provided students with real-world experience, mentorship from industry leaders, and CV-enhancing opportunities. 

The TU Dublin Huawei Business Sustainability Enterprise Challenge was designed to address two key needs:

1. Students were given an opportunity to apply theoretical sustainability concepts to real-world business challenges, making them more workforce-ready. 
2. Promoting sustainable business innovation – The initiative aligned with Ireland’s carbon reduction goals and Huawei’s sustainability strategy. 

Through the Enterprise Academy, TU Dublin connected with Huawei to create an industry-focused learning experience, embedding challenge-based pedagogy into the curriculum. Huawei provided mentorship, insights, and judging expertise, while students explored the economic, environmental, and technological aspects of sustainability in different sectors. 
 
The challenge also reinforced the importance of technology-driven sustainability solutions and the role of corporate partnerships in enhancing educational experiences. By working on this project, students gained a deeper understanding of energy transitions, sustainability leadership, and the business case for renewables. 

 Key Learning outcomes  

• Develop business cases for sustainability-driven solutions using real-world data.  

• Apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to sustainability challenges.  

• Enhance industry collaboration skills, gaining exposure to mentorship from corporate partners.  

• Understand how technology can drive sustainable business models.  

• Strengthen communication and presentation skills through poster exhibitions. 

The Outcome  

• Students reported that the hands-on learning approach helped them develop critical sustainability and business strategy skills. Huawei representatives praised the quality and creativity of the business cases, reinforcing the value of industry-academic collaboration.

Key outputs included:

• Five award-winning projects addressing sustainability challenges in healthcare, dairy, retail, and food processing.
• Stronger industry connections for students, enhancing employability and networking opportunities. 
• Improved understanding of sustainability challenges in business sectors, preparing students to drive real-world change. 
• Huawei highlighted how such challenges help bridge the gap between academia and industry needs, making graduates more prepared for sustainability-focused careers. 

What Next? 

The initiative ran as a second iteration in 2025.  

Closing Notes  

The initiative was made possible through collaboration between TU Dublin and Huawei Ireland, with key contributions from the TU Dublin Enterprise Academy and the Huawei Ireland team (judging panel and mentors). Special thanks to all participating students and faculty who contributed to the project’s success. 

Impact for the SDGs

GreenComp competences framework

Competence Area	Competence	Descriptor
Embodying sustainability values	Valuing sustainability	Reflect on personal values; identify and explain how values vary among people and over time, while critically evaluating how they align with sustainability values.
Embracing complexity in sustainability	Systems thinking	Approach a sustainability problem from all sides; consider time, space, and context to understand how elements interact within and between systems.
Envisioning sustainable futures	Futures literacy	Envision alternative sustainable futures by imagining and developing alternative scenarios and identifying the steps needed to achieve a preferred sustainable future.
	Exploratory thinking	Adopt a relational way of thinking by exploring and linking different disciplines, using creativity and experimentation with novel ideas or methods.