Student Organization Global Health Equity Challenge Program

Preparing student organizations to co-design interdisciplinary global health equity solutions

 

Join the CGHE community of aspiring student innovators working to build equitable collaborations that improve the health of people living in low- and middle-income countries. The Student Organization Global Health Equity Challenge invites interdisciplinary University of Michigan student organizations that have identified a pressing global health equity need and are collaborating with an international partner to co-design a proposal for positive impact. 

 

Overview. The program begins with attendance at an introductory workshop that introduces students to the CGHE approach to global health equity work and prepares organizations to submit a successful proposal. Members of any established student organization with a commitment to improving global health can attend and benefit from the pre-proposal workshop. Organizations that attend the workshop are invited to submit a proposal for a project that outlines an innovative plan to develop or test a solution or intervention that improves the health of people living in low- and middle-income countries. A select group of finalists will be invited to work with CGHE staff and faculty to refine the project, and then they will participate in a pitch competition with a panel of interdisciplinary judges. All finalists that are invited to pitch a project at the competition will receive funding to support the proposed project. The projects will be implemented with continued guidance and support from CGHE. 

 

The next program cycle begins with the introductory workshop on December 13, 2024 from 12:30 - 4:30 PM for projects that will be implemented beginning in summer 2025. See timeline below and REGISTER HERE to participate.

The CGHE Difference

 

Our program is more than a pitch competition. This challenge is unique in the following ways:

  • We invest in your success. We set students up to succeed by providing training and oversight before students submit proposals for a pitch, assisting in refining projects before the pitch competition, and supporting teams through the implementation phase. 

  • We focus on the process. A successful proposal and pitch will highlight the extent to which student organizations show evidence of equitable global partnerships and co-design in their proposals. We know outcomes are important, and we believe that the road to positive impact starts with strong partnering. 

  • We encourage interdisciplinary and inclusive collaboration. We encourage student organizations to include a diverse roster of voices in their activities so that students across schools and departments and at different academic levels can find a place in the global health equity movement. 

Student Organization Challenge

How It Works

Participants will:

  • Explore current topics in global health equity.
  • Learn about CGHE’s principles and approach to global health equity work, including building equitable global collaborations, co-designing solutions for complex global health challenges, and creating a line of sight to impact that improves people’s lives in low-resource settings.
  • Develop skills in interdisciplinary collaboration and problem-solving.
  • Enhance skills in formulating creative and culturally appropriate approaches to research planning, implementation, and dissemination.
  • Develop the knowledge and cultural humility to work with global partners effectively.
  • Expand their professional network and be exposed to possible career pathways in global health equity.

The introductory workshop is open to any U-M student organization with an interdisciplinary roster and a commitment to improving global health, and it is mandatory for organizations that would like to submit a project proposal. U-M student organizations must already be established (SSOs, RSOs, VSOs with an updated Maize Page listing for the current year), and must be able to show evidence of partnership with international collaborators in low- and/or middle-income countries. 

Student organizations that participate in the workshop will be eligible to form a team* of 4-6 students representing the student organization and then submit a proposal outlining an innovative plan to develop or test a solution or intervention that improves the health of people living in low- and middle-income countries. The team must include: 

  • At least one undergraduate member.
  • Representation from multiple disciplines, including at least one member from the social sciences or humanities.

The proposed project must be student-driven. Faculty/staff mentorship is encouraged, but the project must not be the research or a subset of the research of a faculty member. Proposals can include but are not limited to projects that: explore local needs, define a scope of work, validate feasibility of activities, and test initial ideas or prototypes. Teams must show evidence of co-design with an international collaborator in an LMIC. 

*Teams do not need to be formed to participate in the introductory workshop. Organizations that have concerns about meeting the eligibility criteria can still attend the workshop and recruit additional members for their teams after the event. Contact Alana Rodriguez at [email protected] for questions about eligibility.  

December 13, 2024: Global Health Challenge Introductory Workshop
Student organizations attend a half-day preparatory workshop that introduces them to CGHE’s approach to global health equity work.

February 14, 2025: Project Proposals Due
Organizations are invited to submit proposals for projects that outline an innovative plan to develop or test a solution or intervention in an LMIC.

February 21, 2025: Finalists Announced
Four finalists are selected to advance to the pitch competition. They will receive consulting from CGHE that will help them refine their projects and prepare pitches.

March 28, 2025: Pitch Competition
Finalists pitch their project to a panel of global health leaders. They compete for funding to carry out their projects. Awards announced at a reception following the competition.

April 1, 2025 - April 30, 2026: Project Implementation
Awarded groups develop, test, and/or implement their projects with their global partners. 

May 31, 2026: Project Report Due

All finalists that participate in the pitch competition will receive an award that must be used towards project implementation. The competition award structure is as follows: 

First Place: $5000
Second Place: $3000
Third Place: $2000
Fourth Place: $1000

To participate in the next program cycle, a member of your organization must attend the CGHE Student Organization Global Health Equity Challenge - Introductory Workshop on December 13, 2024. We encourage you to bring up to four of your organization members. All members must RSVP separately. 

Note: You do NOT need to have your pitch team assembled yet and the members that attend the workshop do not necessarily have to participate on the pitch team.

Workshop RSVP

Are you a U-M student that wants to get involved but is not yet a member of a student organization? Contact Alana Rodriguez at [email protected]. 

Questions?

Contact Alana Rodriguez
Education and Outreach Program Manager
[email protected]