No time, no team, but a promising idea? What if young talent could finally get that postponed project moving?
Postponed projects? here’s how to move them forward
Every organization has them: projects that look important on paper but never seem to get off the ground. There’s always a reason – no time, no capacity, other priorities. Yet many of these “silent” projects carry real strategic value. The question isn’t whether you have time to work on them, but how much value you lose if you don’t.
The power of fresh perspectives
Research on workplace learning – including the CIPO model (Context–Input–Process–Output) shows that the real value of collaboration doesn’t come from having “extra hands,” but from integrating external perspectives. Fresh eyes ask different questions, break through patterns, and bring new energy into teams.
Students from Antwerp Management School are not interns or temporary researchers. They are promising young professionals with a university degree and often prior work experience. They pursue their master’s to sharpen their strategic insight, leadership skills, and business thinking – with a clear ambition to make impact.
That combination of motivation, analytical strength, and up-to-date academic knowledge translates into tangible added value for companies. Prof. dr. Peggy De Prins, Antwerp Management School: "Students think along, ask critical questions, design solutions, and spark movement in teams and processes. And collaboration goes far beyond delivering a report: students integrate into the team, build relationships, and learn the organizational culture. That’s why results often stick – in policies, in practice, and in people."
Three formats, one outcome: strategic impact
What makes the difference?
Across dozens of collaborations, the same success factors keep coming back:
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Time gained – projects that have been stuck for months finally get structure and are delivered within weeks.
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Tangible results – the output goes beyond a report. Think of a full competency framework at Aertssen or an AI adoption roadmap at Argenta. Tools that keep living in the organization.
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New energy – by involving employees and introducing fresh ideas, students spark conversations and breakthroughs that resonate long after the project ends.
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Talent spotting – collaboration is also a natural way to discover who truly fits your organization. On average, one in three companies decides to hire a student afterwards.
More than a report
The real added value lies in how students work: by embedding themselves in teams, connecting with employees, and translating insights into actionable outcomes. That’s why their impact doesn’t fade after the final presentation – it continues in policies, processes, and people.
"We had to present our results to senior management. They actually wanted to act on them."
– Saartje, just graduated in strategic human resource management
Conclusion: dare to let go
Postponed projects often remain untouched because they seem too large or complex to start “right now.” Experience shows that motivated young professionals can be exactly the trigger to move them forward. For organizations, it means daring to let go, being open to collaboration, and stepping outside the familiar path. Because in the end: how much value are you leaving on the table if you don’t address that project?
In this video, Frédéric, Brent and Christopher explain their consulting project at Ban Flanders.
