University of Westminster alumnus Aram Tufan has made it to the second round of the Santander X Global Challenge competition with his company Happy Student.
The Business Management BA Honours graduate created and developed Happy Student during his time at Westminster. It is designed to provide a supportive platform for students navigating new challenges at university. Bringing together resources on finding housing, sorting out utilities, opening a bank account and more, Happy Student aims to help students transition into university life more easily so that they can focus on making the most of the experience.
He won both the First Prize and the Viral Idea Prize in the Westminster Big Idea Competition 2022, the University’s annual University-wide student and graduate business idea and innovation competition run in partnership with Santander Universities.
The Santander X Global Challenge has been launched by Banco Santander and the Oxentia Foundation to find solutions to address three core aspects: education, employability and entrepreneurship. They are looking for companies that promote access to education and learning, improve employability opportunities, help organisations find top talent, strengthen entrepreneurship, work towards sustainable development and give startups support in accessing key resources.
Tufan said: “Making the second round of the Santander X Global Challenge is a powerful affirmation of our vision at Happy Student. Our AI-driven platform is designed to smooth the transition for students into new academic environments, providing them with a personalised app experience crafted by their own universities. This competition acknowledges our role in redefining educational support, proving that innovation can profoundly impact student success and well-being. It’s more than just validation; it’s a catalyst that will enable us to expand our reach and deepen our impact, ensuring that every student has the tools to thrive in their educational journey.”
Tufan’s work directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
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