The 2025 Global Sustainability Challenge brought together Curtin University students from across disciplines and campuses for an immersive, high-impact learning experience hosted at Curtin University Dubai. Over the course of the week, students engaged in deep exploration of sustainability, cultural context, design thinking and multimedia storytelling as they worked towards innovative responses to this year’s global brief.
Immersive Learning Across Dubai and Abu Dhabi
From the very first day, students were encouraged to think critically and creatively about people, place and sustainability on a global scale. Their learning extended far beyond the studio, with field visits and cultural experiences that shaped their understanding of the region’s social, environmental and historical landscape.
Students explored key cultural and environmental sites including:
- Dubai Design District (d3)
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
- Louvre Abu Dhabi
- Burj Khalifa
- Dubai Creek and historic precincts
These experiences enabled students to draw inspiration from diverse cultural narratives, architectural innovation, and the environmental challenges and opportunities unique to the region. These experiences enabled students to draw inspiration from diverse cultural narratives, architectural innovation, and the environmental challenges and opportunities unique to the region.
Through guided tours, site analysis, and multimedia documentation, students connected ideas, captured insights and expanded their perspective on sustainability in rapidly evolving global contexts.
Collaboration With Expert Partners
A core component of the Challenge involved spending time with industry and community partners who provided firsthand insight into ecological systems, sustainable development and social innovation across the UAE. Students participated in open discussions and guided environmental tours, building a stronger understanding of regional sustainability priorities and their implications for design and policy.
This direct engagement gave students both the knowledge and inspiration needed to develop informed, meaningful and future-focused responses to the Challenge brief.
Bringing It All Together: Final Studio Day & Pitch Night
After six days of cultural immersion, research, prototyping and reflection, students entered their final studio session, a day dedicated to refining, validating and elevating their design solutions.
Teams worked collaboratively to:
- Critically review their concepts against stakeholder needs
- Strengthen logic, structure and storytelling
- Validate facts, data and research
- Integrate cultural and environmental insights
- Finalise their visual and multimedia outputs
Working lunches, peer-to-peer critique sessions and last-round revisions filled the day as teams prepared for their final showcase. That evening, students took the stage for Pitch Night, presenting their completed concepts to peers, facilitators, and invited industry guests. Each presentation demonstrated not only creative thinking but also a deep appreciation for sustainability, cultural context and design rigour. Their work reflected courage, curiosity and a strong commitment to shaping more sustainable futures.
Leadership and Support
Beginning on 6 November 2025, the Challenge was led by an experienced team from Curtin Bentley’s Faculty of Humanities including Professor Josh Byrne, Professor Francesco Mancini, Melissa Greenberg, Stephanie Lee, Bayley Simonds and Arlen Brower (Science and Engineering), as well as academics from Curtin Dubai, including Ajita Nayar, Professor Pon Selvan and Professor Anitha Menon.
Their guidance ensured that students were supported at every stage, from initial ideation through to final delivery.
Looking Ahead
The Global Sustainability Challenge continues to demonstrate the power of global collaboration, experiential learning and interdisciplinary thinking. We are incredibly proud of our students for their energy, resilience and creativity throughout this year’s Challenge.
Gallery
For more information on our upcoming Sustainability Challenges please contact Humanities-Futures@curtin.edu.au
