Summer Lab tests students’ resilience 

22 February 2023

Some of the hallmark traits of an entrepreneurial mindset are resilience, resourcefulness and being solutions-oriented. All of these traits were on show from 2023 Summer Lab students and facilitators, who completed the four-week programme despite disruptions from two severe weather events. 

Summer Lab is a co-curricular programme delivered by the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) and is open to students and staff of all faculties at the University of Auckland. Participants learn how innovation and entrepreneurship are vital tools to enable people to make significant change in the world. Over the course of the programme they learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), identify a problem to solve, form teams and come up with a business idea based around their solution. 

This year is the eighth iteration of the programme, which has won two international awards for its unique, interdisciplinary design and the lasting impression that it makes on participants. A total of 93 students participated in Summer Lab in 2023. 

Psychology and Communications student Anya McNeill says “My Summer Lab experience has been truly impactful. I could have my learning scaffolded, explore innovation and start-ups, it was actually fun… the list goes on. The best part: The skills are transferable and they’ll help me in anything I do (Hopefully working towards my own business).”  

Summer Lab participants join as individuals and form teams based around the problems they are attracted to. Often team members will have been complete strangers at the start of the programme.  

Anya says “It was the first time in my uni experience that I felt a part of a community – where people were like-minded and open and interested. It seemed like everyone who joined was a certain type of person – the kind of person I wanted to meet, and felt I hadn’t yet.”  

Summer Lab was facilitated by Business School Senior Lecturer Dr Deborah Shepherd, CIE Programme Manager Judith Marecek and CIE Programme Coordinator Jessica Schneider. Summer Lab took months of preparation and the organising team worked hard to manage pivots during Auckland’s severe weather. Summer Lab was moved online for multiple days during Auckland’s atmospheric river event and during and following Cyclone Gabrielle. 

CIE Director Darsel Keane says “I am incredibly proud of how our Summer Lab team persisted in such trying circumstances. It’s a credit to the design and facilitation team that the students opted to continue with the programme.” 

Summer Lab ended with 3 teams selected by judges as having the overall winning ideas based on criteria around quality of pitches as well as demonstrating that the solutions they had come up with addressed the problems they had identified. Winners received a LEGO trophy and bragging rights.  

Summer Lab participants will soon reunite for an in-person pizza party celebration to mark the end of the programme. All Summer Lab participants are eligible to have their experience credited towards a University of Auckland Distinguished Graduate Award. 

Summer Lab winners: 

Geni: An online resource to help students who have left the nest make considerations to reduce power bills through gamification. Tour rooms and click on various power-consuming objects for advice on cost of use and advice on how to reduce power consumption. 

Comm.Unity: An online marketplace for wellness events to help address relaxation, anxiety and self-expression 

Wholemeal: An app to help university students eat healthier through assisting users to plan groceries and meals to meet personal needs and goals.