Introduction to Impact4Change 

Humans are motivated to push past revolutionary heights with inventions and innovation that tackle the world’s challenges. Taylor’s University and Taylor’s Mereka Makerspace (TMM) recognises this and have collaborated to create the Impact4Change platform, a space that encourages the sharing of knowledge, ideas and solutions to assist in challenges that organisations, businesses, Social Enterprises (SEs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) face. These challenges will be connected to the passionate community of students at Taylor’s University. Impact4Change exists to ensure that this burning fuel of passion to overcome obstacles and solve problems in the community never dies. The platform allows the energy to be channelled to relevant parties in order to curate and materialise solutions for the betterment of everyone. 

How Does the Platform Work? 

Let’s delve into understanding the entire process of Impact4Change in 8 simple steps. 

‍

Step 1: Industry players, community leaders or  the general public- be it students, young children, adults or senior citizens, submit a challenge they face  via an online form on the platform. Upon verification by TMM, these challenges will then be open for engagement on the Impact4Change platform. 

Step 2: Taylor’s University students, especially those pursuing their Final Year Projects, students under the Multidisciplinary Learning Experience (MLE) and the U4 module, fill in the “Engage A Challenge” forms that correspond with the challenges proposed in Step 1. 

Note: All Taylor’s University students are allowed to participate in this initiative. 

Step 3: TMM unites the challenge proposer and the team of students that has expressed interest to kickstart the collaboration. At this stage, the issue must be well-defined and understood by both parties with distinct identification of needs and insights required for the potential solution to be crafted. A rough timeline and initial plan must be drafted. 

Step 4: Upon further discussion and research with all stakeholders, the students must build a prototype of the solution. At this point, students are free to use all services provided by TMM at  no charge. From laser engraving and 3D printing to the utilisation of the electronics lab and fabrication lab, the workspace is open for use to assist students in building a good prototype. Mentorship and guidance will also be provided when necessary by TMM experts to the teams that require it. Apart from resources in TMM, it is up to the relationship between the student and their collaborators to utilise  other resources that either party may own. 

Step 5: Upon completion of the prototype, a period for testing and feedback from real-life users follows. This is to improve their initial prototype and build on legitimate feedback provided by the community.  

Step 6: After all revisions have been made, the proposed solution and prototype will be presented to the initial challenge proposer through a showcase and presentation by the students. 

Step 7: With approval from the necessary parties, the students’  idea is commercialised  for implementation within the target groups. This commercialisation  is done in collaboration with the Centre for Knowledge Transfer & Commercialisation (KTC) in Taylor’s University and Bizpod, an entrepreneur startup incubator. 

Step 8: Students get to see their idea come to fruition right before their eyes! Following the completion of the entire process, students will create a digital portfolio on the Impact4Change platform as a reference. 

Join In

The fairly straightforward process makes the idea of inventing and innovating solutions for the community seem less daunting and more doable. Are you someone ready to raise a communal issue or a passionate Taylor’s University student? Watch the Impact4Change space for updates!