THE BIG IDEA – Communications planning template

1. Key responsibilities. Please request for a date for each element, and send back to The Big Issue.

Element Date Your responsibilities

IntegrationWill you integrate The Big Idea into course work, or offer it as an extra-curricular activity?

ASAP Confirm with other stakeholders at the university whether The Big Idea will be integrated into a subject, or offered as an extracurricular activity.

Student teams and promotionsIs your university participating in the undergraduate and/or postgraduate stream of the competition?How many student teams are you aiming to have at each level?In which faculties are potential students based? Which extra-curricular activities are they already doing? If post-graduate, are they research or coursework students?

ASAP Confirm with other university stakeholders how many students you would like to have involved in The Big Idea.

The stakeholder engagement process outlined below will help you reach this goal.

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2. Who are your stakeholders?

Identify key stakeholders and possible ‘Big Idea’ champions within your university.

Stakeholders may be academic or general staff who are interested in social enterprise or entrepreneurship, student development, student competitions, or experiential learning. If The Big Idea is integrated into a subject, stakeholders are likely to include sessional tutors as well as academic staff.

Use the below table to document those key stakeholders

Name Title and Department Email Phone number Have you made contact?

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3. How will you communicate with your key stakeholders?

Once you’ve identified these stakeholders, use the table below to document the best ways to communicate ‘Big Idea’ information to them.

Keep in mind that general communications, such as faculty meetings and all staff emails, can help you find other stakeholders.

Use the below table to document how you may be able to communicate with your key stakeholders

Method of communication What is required By when Has this been completed / or comments?

e.g. Present The Big Idea at March Departmental staff meeting

Seek agenda item for next meeting

March 15 No

e.g. Notify all university staff in an email

Write all staff emailSeek permission to send all staff email

April 1May 25

No

e.g. Targeted phone calls to staff interested in social enterprise

Compile list of staff known to be interested in social enterpriseMake phone calls

25 March

1 April

No

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4. How can your key stakeholders communicate with students about The Big Idea?

Ultimately, your key stakeholders and ‘Big Idea’ champions will assist with student recruitment.

Use the table below to document suggestions for stakeholders to communicate with their students about The Big Idea.

Method of communication Key stakeholder What is required By when Has this been completed / or comments?

e.g. Provide stakeholders with Big Idea student marketing toolkits

All as listed above Receive electronic toolkit from The Big Issue.

Prepare 10 packs for stakeholders

March 10 Yes

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5. How can you communicate to students directly about The Big Idea?

There may also be opportunities for you to communicate about The Big Idea directly to students. This may include tools such as student websites and social media channels, expo’s, and the student resource center.

Use the table to identify these opportunities

Method of communication What is required By when Has this been completed?

e.g. University website Email website administrators 200 words of copy

Feb 28 No

e.g. The Big Idea facebook group

Begin posting university relevant content in The Big Idea facebook group

August 1

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6. Making student registration simple

Once student recruitment has commenced, you will need to begin student registration process. You will have received student registration templates within this toolkit to help you.

We will also be providing all participating universities with a poster, flyer and short video presentation to assist with your recruitment efforts.

It is important to make the registration process as easy as possible for your students, which means ensuring all your communication materials clearly highlight how and who they need to register with, at their university.

The Big Idea competition is largely administered through the website www.thebigidea.org.au therefore it is strongly encouraged for each participating university to list their key contact / registration details here.

You will be contacted directly by The Big Issue for this information shortly.

7. Remember we’re always here to help!

The above questions are suggested guides to help you achieve strong student and stakeholder interest in The Big Idea.

It’s important to remember our team at The Big Issue is available to assist you with any questions or issues that arise throughout the implementation of The Big Idea within your university.

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