UNIFORCE 2025

Students tackling real-world challenges for a Sustainable Scotland

UNIFORCE is a student-led initiative that brings together students from across Scotland to work on real-world sustainability challenges in teams. It's about using your skills to make a difference and boost your employability!

It is open to current students and recent graduates across four cities in the five participating Scottish Universities:

• Stirling
• Robert Gordon
• Edinburgh Napier
• Glasgow Caledonian
• University of the West of Scotland

Students from the participating universities are challenged to address real-world issues by developing projects over a period of 8 weeks that foster innovation, build communities, and strengthen Scotland’s economic workforce.

This year’s theme is “Project for a Sustainable Scotland”.

How it Works

See full guidelines here: Uniforce Guidelines for Students 

It is free to enter, and open to all current students and recent graduates of the participating universities. Participants are required to form a group of 3 -7 team members who will create and deliver a project of their choice based on the theme “Project for a Sustainable Scotland”.

Academics will serve as the judging panel and elected officers from the participating universities form the review board. 

Throughout the challenge, participating student groups will submit structured reports at various stages to track progress:

• Project Proposal (750 words): A detailed plan of the project’s lifecycle and objectives. 
  (to be submitted on 4 October 2025)
• Mid-Term Report (500 words): A progress report after four weeks of the project starting. (to be submitted 15 November 2025)
• Final Report (350 words): An evaluation of project outcomes against predefined success criteria. (to be submitted 5 December 2025)

Project Timeline:

• Student Proposal Submission Window: 4 August – 4 October 2025
• Challenge Period: 15 October – 15 December 2025
• Awards Night: January 2026

Awards & Recognition

The challenge will celebrate winners throughout the programme.

1. Student participants will have the chance to pitch their projects to potential employers and network with industry professionals.
2. The teams will be featured on our website and social media channels
3. Thanks to our sponsorship by UNISON, the winning team will receive a £200 cash prize.
4. All participants will be awarded certificates based on achievements in the following categories: Innovation Excellence, Community Impact, Future-Focused Solutions, Energy Efficiency Recognition and Global Sustainability Contribution.
5. Our partnership with ISCANET provides all announced finalists access to ISCANET’s Premium Pack, up to 12-weeks of cutting-edge tools, designed to elevate your personal and professional edge during and after the programme.
6. Most importantly, you will gain professionally recognised UK work experience and develop key skills such as project management, teamworking and communication. Great stuff for your CV and impressing future employers!

How to Take Part

Would you like to be part of this transformative experience? Don't miss out - apply today and be part of Scotland’s next wave of changemakers.

Get your team together, come up with your project proposal (check the guidance document linked above for more info) and submit the details to initiative.uniforce@gmail.com or c.marvis@napier.ac.uk by 4 October 2025.

Last Year’s Success

We launched the initiative in 2024 at Edinburgh Napier University, delivering 7 student-led projects within an eight-week structured timeframe.

42 participants gained valuable workplace experience, culminating in a formal award ceremony attended by academics, industry experts, and business leaders.

Many students from the challenge have since secured employment opportunities. For reference check out last year’s projects, and winners at the award night.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

🔹 Who can take part?

Any student/recent graduate from the participating institutions can get involved, no matter your course or year. You just need to be passionate about sustainability and teamwork!

🔹 Do I need experience?

Nope! Whether you're a sustainability pro or completely new, UNIFORCE is designed to help you learn as you go. Support and training will be provided.

🔹 What kind of projects will I work on?

Projects should be innovative, ideally linked to your course of study and have a sustainability focus e.g. things like climate action, sustainable food systems, waste reduction, or local community solutions. You'll be tackling real issues with real impact. To capture more than the engineering sector or environmental sustainability sphere, ideas, examples and projects from other schools are welcomed. 

🔹 How much time will it take?

You’ll usually commit a few hours a week during the project period, but it depends on the team and timeline. We'll let you know up front what to expect.

🔹 What do I get out of it?

• Hands-on experience
• Skills development (problem-solving, teamwork, project management)
• A chance to meet other passionate students
• CV and employability boost!

🔹 How do I sign up?

Just contact initiative.uniforce@gmail.com or c.marvis@napier.ac.uk to register your team and project proposal by 4 October 2025. See the Guidelines for what to include in your proposal. Feel free to get in touch if you need any support through the process.

🔹 Will I be supported during the project?

Yes! Each team gets support from mentors, staff, and sometimes external partners to help guide your work and make sure you feel confident throughout.

Sponsors

Uniforce is kindly supported by Unison as part of their Year of Green Activity. 

Partners

We are partnered by Iscanet and Inspiration Quarters.