MACAO, July 8, 2026. Students from the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) have developed a comprehensive commercial strategy for Design for Change (DFC) Macao, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering children through design thinking. The Capstone business project, guided by Dr. Fernando Lourenço (羅導謙博士), tasked students with solving the existential challenge of financial sustainability for the volunteer-run NGO.
DFC Macao has operated since 2012, guiding children and young people to solve community problems using a four-step framework: Feel, Imagine, Do, and Share. However, as a fully volunteer-run entity reliant on government and private funding, the organisation faces critical challenges in achieving long-term financial independence. To address this, the UTM students analysed 80 global and local educational case studies, examining successful business models, revenue streams, and marketing strategies from across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Macao.
Crucially, the students did not merely conduct standard market research. They successfully bridged academic theories related to design thinking, guided play, project-based learning, and service learning with commercial strategy. By understanding the unique pedagogical value of the programmes, the cohort proposed innovative, income-generating products and services. These proposals are designed to help the social enterprise transition into a hybrid revenue model, allowing it to commercialise its accumulated knowledge and expertise.
'This project highlights the vital role universities play in the social sector,' said Dr. Lourenço. 'Our students are providing DFC Macao with a viable, data-driven roadmap to commercialise its educational impact, ensuring the NGO can sustain its operations and expand its reach within the community.'
The strategic recommendations delivered by the students provide DFC Macao with actionable steps to diversify its funding, develop premium educational workshops, and forge new corporate partnerships, ultimately securing the organisation's future and amplifying its social impact across the region.