Summer Lab
Solve a world problem this summer
About the Programme:
Ready to spend your summer solving real-world problems and creating innovative solutions?
Summer Lab is an award-winning, hands-on programme where you’ll tackle challenges inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over four weeks, you’ll collaborate with like-minded aspiring changemakers, form teams, and build the skills you need to make a real impact.
By the end of the programme, your team will present your journey to a panel of judges and receive valuable feedback and guidance.
Open to students of all disciplines and faculties at the University of Auckland – no prior experience in innovation or entrepreneurship needed. Just bring your curiosity and drive!
Your Opportunity:
- Find your people: Work alongside a diverse group of students from across campus who are passionate about making a difference.
- Build your network: Connect with mentors, entrepreneurs, social innovators, and investors who are here to support you.
- Learn by doing: Dive into experiential learning, including using equipment in our makerspace to bring your ideas to life.
- Broaden your perspective: Expand your mind with fresh insights and diverse knowledge.
- Get recognised: Earn formal credits through the University’s Co-curricular Recognition Programme and work towards a Distinguished Graduate Award.
Learning Outcomes:
- Entrepreneurial thinking: Generate ideas, test them, and refine them.
- Engage with customers: Learn how to conduct customer discovery, ask insightful questions, and gather feedback to refine your product or service.
- Global awareness: Explore social and environmental issues through the lens of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Collaborate effectively in teams: Develop interpersonal and communication skills to foster cooperation and shared decision-making.
- Design thinking: Explore ideation techniques and tools like business canvases.
- Prototyping basics: Learn how to create and refine early versions of your solution.
- Pitching skills: Learn to confidently present and communicate your ideas.
- Engage with mentors and stakeholders: Learn strategies to connect with mentors, potential customers, investors, and other stakeholders.
- Essential business skills: Understand negotiation, financial fundamentals, intellectual property (IP), and raising capital.
Timing and Commitment:
- Duration: Four weeks, part-time.
- Commitment: Estimated 30 hours per week.
2026 In-Person Sessions:
Week 1:
- Monday 19 January – 9am – 5pm
- Tuesday 20 January – Friday 23 January – 10am – 5pm
Week 2:
- Monday 26 January – Wednesday 28 January – 10am – 5pm
- No workshop on Thursday 29 January due to Auckland Anniversary.
- Friday 30 January – 10am – 5pm
Week 3:
- Monday 2 February – Thursday 5 February – 10am – 5pm
- No workshop on Friday 6 February due to Waitangi Day.
Week 4:
- Monday 9 February – Tuesday 10 February – 10am – 5pm
- Wednesday 11 February – Final Presentation and Celebration – 10am – 6pm
Facilitators:
*Bios will be added here.*
How to Apply:
Applications close on 30 November 2025. Don’t miss your chance to create change. Apply today!
If you have questions about the programme, please contact cie_programmes@auckland.ac.nz
Read about past participants’ experiences
“The internship has shown me the things I like to do and the things I don’t like to do. This is extremely valuable to me, as it taught me more about myself and has allowed me to create an even clearer path for what I want in the future.”
Kyle de Thier, Bachelor of Commerce student, interned at Fistbump
“The internship was not solely a coding all-day-long experience. I was also encouraged to attend the mentor meetings with VentureLab Manager Ken Erskine. These weekly meetings have given me such wonderful insights on how to tackle problems in the real world and really made me feel like an integral part of the PrintGig team.
The most valuable lesson I have learned during my internship is that it is not just about being the best but bringing out the best in others that makes a team successful. And I believe it is these learnings that have shaped me into a better professional.”
Simran Nayak, Master of Information Technology student, interned at PrintGig
“One of the benefits of working at a start-up is that there is no hierarchy, so it’s been easy for me to leave my comfort zone by not just focusing on the technical side of the business. I’ll be continuing my internship at Delta Waterways, and my role will be to further develop, validate, and improve the water quality algorithms so that we can successfully complete our upcoming trial run with the regional councils.”
Nicholas Lee, Bachelor (Hons) of Engineering student, interned at Delta Waterways
“I plan to finish my studies this year and join the workforce in the area of international trade and foreign affairs. The market analysis role has better equipped me in the international trade space, which I am grateful for. The connections I made and the warm working environment we created were the highlight of my experience and will hopefully be connections that endure even after the internship’s completion.”
Max Johansson-Pugh, Bachelor of Commerce and Arts student, interned at SuperCarbon
If you have questions about the programme, please contact cie_programmes@auckland.ac.nz
About the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship provides a world of opportunity to participants so that they can stand out and create value through innovative careers and start-up creation.
CIE is New Zealand’s leading University entrepreneurship centre, winning 12 international awards since 2020.
EMAIL
CIE@AUCKLAND.AC.NZ
POSTAL ADDRESS
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
PRIVATE BAG 92019, AUCKLAND
