Sigmund On The Syllabus Program
A sustainability-focused innovation platform for tourism students, in partnership with Capilano University.
64
Individual & team submissions to date
3
Semesters running
20
Top teams showcased
The Syllabus Program, In 3 Steps
A simple, faculty-ready way to give students a real-world platform to build, pitch, and publish sustainable tourism ideas.
Add It To Your Syllabus
Faculty embed a Sigmund assignment into a weekly module. Students read the provided brief and explore existing ideas for inspiration.
Students Submit Ideas
Each student (or team) develops and submits an idea to the open-source platform — explaining the idea, why it matters, and the help they need.
Showcase & Collaborate
The top submissions are showcased publicly. Students can connect with collaborators, and winning ideas get featured — like the Sakura app below.
Week 7: The Sigmund Project
Advancing Global Tourism Through Innovation and Collaboration
We are halfway through the course and have explored how climate change affects tourism. Now, you will develop an idea that could create positive change.
The Sigmund Project is a nonprofit platform that connects tourism ideas with people who can help bring them to life.
Your Assignment
Develop and submit an idea to the Sigmund Open Source Platform. Before submitting, clearly explain your idea, why it matters, and what support you need.
Browse existing ideas for inspiration and watch the SIGMUND video about pitching an idea.
Discovering Your Idea
Consider the following questions. You may skip any that are not relevant.
- • What types of work or study interest you?
- • What do you care about most?
- • How do you define your community?
- • What tourism trends have you noticed?
- • How are travelers changing?
- • What has frustrated you while traveling?
- • What seems difficult, unfair, or inefficient in tourism?
- • What traveler solutions could become useful products or services?
- • How could AI or other technology improve experiences for travelers or local communities?
Refining Your Pitch
Answer these three questions:
- What is your idea?
Example: "I have an idea for..." or "What if there was..."
- What is your most immediate challenge?
Example: "I need people to test my app," "I need to connect with experts," or "I need help reaching my target audience."
- Why does this idea matter to you?
Example: Supporting local communities, solving a common problem, or making travel more sustainable.
The Sakura Season Mobile App
Voted the top student submission in the Sigmund on The Syllabus contest.
The Idea
What if there was a mobile app that educates people about the season of Sakura.
Headline
A platform for travellers to find the best places to view Sakura in Vancouver
The Ask
Looking to connect with IT professionals to collaborate and create a platform to educate and inform about the Sakura season in Vancouver.
Ideal Collaborative Partners
Our ideal collaborative partners would be someone that have launched something similar in the past, who can share their experiences and challenges with us. We hope that through the collaboration, it will quicken the process of creating the app and lower the chances of stumbling across similar issues that they have experienced before.
Most Pressing Challenge
The most immediate challenge we are facing is lacking the knowledge on creating a mobile application.
What Makes Us Feel Good
Just the scenery of the Sakuras blooming in Vancouver is already breathtaking. If there is a convenient method to inform citizens in Vancouver when the season starts and where are some of the best places to view the Sakura, then many people can enjoy the beautiful nature together.
Press Release
Vancouver, Canada — March 15, 2023
Sigmund Helps To Develop New Sustainability Ideas with Capilano University Students
The Sigmund Project, a not-for-profit dedicated to advancing innovation and collaboration within the tourism industry, has partnered with Capilano University for the third semester running to run The Sigmund on The Syllabus Program, a sustainability-focused, innovation platform for university students.
Sigmund on The Syllabus challenges students to develop innovative and practical ideas that will contribute to a sustainable future in the tourism industry and beyond.
This year's midterm exam involved students submitting their ideas to Sigmund, with the top 20 teams showcasing their ideas at TheSigmundProject.org/CapilanoUniversity.
The Sigmund on The Syllabus Program also included a Student Contest where colleagues voted for their top ideas among the 20 submissions. The competition was intense, but two standout ideas emerged victorious — the Sakura season mobile app and the eco-friendly art workshop.
"We are thrilled with the level of engagement and enthusiasm shown by the students at Capilano University," said Founder of The Sigmund Project, Alan Elliott Merschen. "The quality of the ideas submitted was outstanding, and we are proud to support these innovative and practical solutions for a sustainable future. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Capilano University and to see what future cohorts of students will bring to our open-source platform for tourism entrepreneurs."
Ideas From Capilano Students
A sample of submissions from Capilano University students participating in the program.
Showing 61 ideas
App-managed network of sustainable tiny houses for road trips across Austria.
Presented in Canada
Gamified app rewarding travelers for completing sustainable travel challenges.
Presented in Canada
Resort workshops where tourists create art from collected marine litter.
Presented in Canada
Replaces single-use hotel amenities with zero-waste bamboo and natural alternatives.
Presented in Canada
Fundraising and education platform to manage recycling programs at events.
Presented in Canada
Booking platform funding conservation and educating tourists on endangered species.
Presented in Canada
Ecological footprint rating system for hotels displayed on booking platforms.
Presented in Canada
Hotels host cooking classes led by local chefs using locally sourced ingredients.
Presented in Canada
Fully sustainable hotel concept built with wood and bamboo, powered entirely by solar energy.
Presented in Canada
Platform for locals and tourists to share recycling tips and map proper waste disposal locations.
Presented in Canada
Online hub connecting hospitality businesses with verified zero-waste and sustainable suppliers.
Presented in Canada
Installs solar panels on glass facades and rooftops of hotels to offset 24-hour electricity use.
Presented in Canada
Connects grocery stores and restaurants with hostels to distribute surplus food to budget travelers.
Presented in Canada
Uses handmade bamboo bicycles for tours in Vancouver to promote eco-friendly transport and materials.
Presented in Canada
Helps travelers with mobility disabilities choose suitable flights and hotels by auditing accessibility facilities.
Presented in Canada
A platform for travellers to find the best places to view Sakura in Vancouver
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Our ideal collaborative partners would be someone that have launched something similar in the past, who can share their experiences and challenges with us. We hope that through the collaboration, it will quicken the process of creating the app and lower the chances of stumbling across similar issues that they have experienced before.
A Sustainable Homestay App
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Ideal homestay hosts would speak at least beginner English (or whatever the tourist's native language is) to be able to communicate with one another. If the host is hosting you at their home for one night they would need an appropriate bedroom or area for you to stay. The app could also include some sort of background check for hosts and travellers to increase safety measures. Review systems will also be set in place so that travellers can give a review to hosts.
ToDay TraVel: A Local Discovery App
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Travel agencies and creative people looking forward to the future of travel and innovative locations.
100% Green Energy Hotels
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Large hotel chains Solar window companies Solar panel companies
AI-Powered Tourism Experiences
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: My ideal collaborative partner or partners would be companies and industries that research and develop artificial intelligence. We want to work with specialist teams and companies to bring in their products, and provide a more accurate experience for visitors from different countries.
Electric Scooters for Short-Term Rental Guests
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: We are looking for people in the electric scooter industry in order to see if it is possible to connect it with short-term rental properties.
Sustainability Ratings for Hotels and Restaurants
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: My collaborative partner would be a company making such online platform where travelers can book hotels and reserve restaurants on their sustainability practices ratings, which would motivate many Hotels and restaurants to follow sustainable practices and will result in eco-friendly environment.
Low-Emission Transportation at Tourist Sites
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Using this method will help many to get job and we can reduce the pollution as well as increase revenue in the tourism. My ideal collaborative partner or partners would be the local tour operators and guides.
Turning Hotel Wastewater into Clean Energy
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I want to work with people who are working for environment in order to get more information. Plus I want to collaborate with Vancouver conventional center.
Waste Management for India's Houseboats
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I am looking for the one who has knowledge regarding the government's policy and supports regarding my idea along with one who have experience regarding proper non-biodegradable waste management.
An All-in-One, Paperless Travel App
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I am looking for people who have an experience in making app both for Android and iOS.
A Carpooling App for Travelers in Canada
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I would like to have the support of tourism places to promote the culture of using common vehicle instead of own vehicles to visit the place. Corporate companies/Universities and school/ local firms etc. can be a great support to promote the culture of sharing rides among the travelers who are traveling from same location.
A Sustainable Travel Tips YouTube Channel
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Looking for an advice to create a informative channel to help the tourists.
Virtual Tourism for Parks and Wildlife Areas
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I am looking for the people, brands and government to explain and promote virtual tourism
A Tourism Conservation Fund
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: My ideal collaborative partner would be a committee that would gather funds from hotels, eateries, adventure activity clubs, and all other tourist-related businesses that contribute to the tourism industry's earnings. The revenue gathered would be used to protect the environment
Sustainable Tourism Marketing and Education
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I have wanted to learn and grab my senior's experiences
Plant a Forest While Traveling
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: People who wants to travel around the world while fighting climate change by planting trees at forests.
Social Media for Climate-Conscious Travel
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I am looking for people who have launched something like this before.
A Sustainable Travel Challenge App
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: My ideal collaborative partner or partners would be Governments and some global companies
Clean Energy Across the Tourism Industry
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I will try to take help of government officer as well as people who are working at higher authority in hospitality industry. Apart from this I can ask to my classmates too at some points.
A Fossil Fuel Education App
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I think my elder brother and my friend will be my partners because they also have interest in nature.
A Nature-First Eco-Tourism Agency
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I'm searching for people who have launched something similar in the past to assist me in moving forward; I'm curious if anyone has seen my idea before, and if so, where did they see it and how well it worked., I'm curious if there are any government initiatives that could help me with my proposal.
Green Ratings for Hotels
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I would like to take input from Hoteliers, who want to support and work towards the goal of zero carbon emission by ensuring Hotels have checks and balances in place and does list effort towards sustainable buisness keeping enviorment in mind.
Green Tours for Hands-On Climate Action
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Tour Operators, Green Hotels, Environmentalists, Eco-Enthusiasts.
Electric Airport Transfers in Israel
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: A transfer company willing to invest in 100% electric vehicles and join me in the effort to place charging stations at the airport and main hotels in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
E-Bikes for Cleaner Tourism
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I am looking for a collaborative partner for this idea so that we can work together to make people aware of the benefits of E-bikes. for example- hold seminar, camps, etc.
Submission Needs More Information
Presented in Canada
A Travel Companion Matching Platform
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: My ideal collaborative partner would be who can help me with the funding involved to execute this plan. I am willing to give up 15% equity of my company. Planning involves survey's of current apps and websites who provide the same service.
Connecting Travelers with Local Paying Guests
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I'm interested to learn if there are any government programs to support my idea.
Paperless Hotel Operations
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I am looking for like owners of the hotels, NGOs who promote sustainability and hotel associations, so that I could share my idea and by taking their help execute it.
Paperless Hotel Check-In and Payments
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: My ideal collaborative partner or partners would be hotels around the world. I am looking for hotels, especially 5-star hotels which use paperless services. I am interested to know hotels company or hotel managers would like to support this idea?
Solar-Powered Transportation for Tourism
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: My ideal collaborative partners would be tour operators and hotels.
A Guide to Sustainable Local Businesses
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: A platform like yelp
Recycling Reward Machines at Tourist Destinations
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: My ideal collaborative partner or partners would be people who have launched similar ideas before or know about similar projects but also they are passionate about social- environmental entrepreneurship and sustainability. With the help of government and UN, this idea can be begin at the poor country so that the poor people can earn few money for their livelihood.
Rewarding Travelers for Sustainable Choices
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Anyone who's willing to provide coupons of certain amount which can be redeemed at their shops. Marketing firms to actually to actually make people aware of the platform and IT group to keep the programme running
Nature Experience Zones Inside Hotels
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Any Hotel who can build exhibition related to nature in their hotel.
A Global Marketplace for Indigenous-Made Products
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I'm looking for mainly two kinds of people. One in someone that could build a ecommerce that could work globaly. The other one would be organizations, individuals or goverments that could be not only responsable for those itens, but also the face for their community.
Plastic-Free Travel Health Stations
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I'm interested to learn if there are any government programs to support my idea.
Recycled and Recyclable Travel Products
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Global partnerships with organizations that foster travel, sales platforms.
Reducing Single-Use Plastic in Hospitality
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I am looking for people who are in Hospitality industry all over the world and who want to contribute in sustainable solutions. I would appreciate and welcome new ideas and thoughts which can be implemented in Hospitality.
Responsible Waste Management for Kerala Houseboats
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I am looking forward for partner who has interesting and unique approach towards proper waste management and to conserve and balance aqua life and habitat
Clean-Up Camping Tours
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: People who enjoy camping and diving, as well as cleaning up the ocean or nature, would be my ideal collaborative partner or partners.
A Model Eco-Friendly Residential Community
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Looking to collaborate with builders, Environmental conservation, renewable energy resources provider, architect, app developers.
Turning Cruise Ship Waste into Renewable Energy
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: Cruiseship companies and waste management companies as well as renewable energy companies
#MyGreenGetaway Social Campaign
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I am looking for bloggers, or social media influencers, who can help me advertise my hashtag and go viral. Also I want to learn if anyone has seen my idea before and, if so, where have they seen it and did it work?
A Map of Sustainable Restaurants
Presented in Canada
IN SEARCH OF: I am looking for people who have experiences on building an app or creating a food map.
Bring Sigmund On The Syllabus To Your University
Partner with The Sigmund Project to give your students a real-world platform to develop, pitch, and showcase sustainable tourism innovations.