Written by Ojal Ashish Gandhi
Do you ever feel the itch to step beyond theory and immerse yourself in real-world challenges? I certainly did. While traditional assignments offer depth, I craved something more dynamic, something that blended academia with tangible impact. Enter the Capstone Live Project at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), a transformative opportunity that became a game-changer for my academic and professional journey.
Like many students, I faced the classic choice: a traditional dissertation or a live project. The former is a solitary marathon of research, while the latter is a collaborative sprint through real-world challenges. The Capstone Live Project stood out because it offered the chance to work with a real client, tackle pressing issues, and apply theory to practice.
When I joined the project, I was assigned to work with One World Together (OWT), a nonprofit with an innovative funding model focused on sustainability and global citizenship. My task was to explore the role of Student Union Societies in ensuring OWT’s long-term sustainability. It was an opportunity to dive into something meaningful, something that resonated with my aspirations to create lasting change.
Sustainability begins with empowering communities today to lead a better tomorrow— Ojal Ashish Gandhi
The project wasn’t just an academic exercise, it was a journey into the heart of nonprofit strategy. I conducted surveys, gathered insights, and analysed how university students engage with global citizenship. The results were inspiring as it shows that students expressed a strong desire to lead initiatives such as climate action campaigns and educational drives, aligning perfectly with OWT’s mission.
Working with my team taught me invaluable lessons in collaboration and problem-solving. Together, we crafted a strategy to expand SUS across universities, ensuring financial stability and fostering a new generation of global citizens. Presenting our findings to OWT’s leadership was exhilarating, and the positive feedback we received validated our hard work and dedication.
For anyone considering their next academic step, I’d say “choose the Capstone Live Project”. It’s a transformative experience that prepares you for the challenges of the real world while enabling you to make a tangible impact. For me, it wasn’t just a module, it was the key to unlocking my career potential.