Design the Future

Are you ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges? Design the Future is your chance to work with other DMU students from different courses and backgrounds to develop an innovative solution to a real-world challenge. You can choose a theme that interests you and bring your own subject knowledge, skills and ideas to the project.

Choose your challenge

You can focus on one of the following themes:

  • Future cities: How can cities become more sustainable, inclusive and technologically advanced?
  • Future learning: How can universities improve learning, wellbeing and student success?
  • Future work: How will emerging technologies change careers, workplaces and businesses?
  • Future communities: How can technology and innovation help create stronger, more resilient communities?

There is no single right approach. You can explore your chosen challenge from any disciplinary perspective.

Build your team

You will work in a team of 4 to 6 students. To encourage collaboration and help you make new connections across the university, teams should include:
  • At least one online student
  • At least one on-campus student, where possible
  • Students from at least two different programmes

What you'll create

At the end of the competition, your team will produce:
  • A three-minute video showcasing your idea
  • A one-page infographic or poster
  • A short three-minute presentation
Selected entries will be showcased as part of the start-of-term re-induction programme.

Weekly challenges

Connect with other participants and take part in fun weekly activities to win additional prizes, including:

  • Best Team Selfie
  • Most International Team
  • Best Team Collaboration Story
  • Most Creative Progress Update

Alongside these activities, you'll also have the chance to join online coffee chats hosted by Student Life to discuss ideas, share experiences and meet other participants, and alumni inspiration sessions to hear from recent graduates, gain valuable insights and receive feedback on your project ideas.

The prize

  • The De Montfort Award for Innovation
  • A certificate of Achievement
  • A feature on DMU Dubai website
  • A personalised LinkedIn recommendation from your Programme Leader.

Entries will be judged on their creativity (25%), feasibility (25%), impact (25%), collaboration (15%) and quality of presentation (10%). 

Join the challenge

Competition timeline

 

Week 1

Date to be confirmed.

  • Competition launch and registration opens
  • Sign up individually or as part of a team

 

Week 2

  • Virtual networking session
  • If you have not yet joined a team, we will help match you with other participants

 

Weeks 3 and 4

  • Teamworking and project development
  • Collaborate online and in person using:
    • Microsoft Teams
    • Virtual workshops

 

Week 5

  • Submission deadline

 

Week 6

  • Final showcase event as part of start-of-year re-induction
  • Finalists present their ideas to the judging panel
  • Vote for your favourite project in the People's Choice Award