The Welsh team collected their award from astronaut Bill McArthur

Six students from Yale College in Wrexham and two from Coleg Gwent in Usk travelled to Glasgow to represent Wales in the annual event.

They made a plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions within a city and strengthen the economy over 10 years.

Assembly Enterprise Minister Andrew Davies said: "This is truly a 'Team Wales' win and we're very proud".

Mr Davies added: "The Global Enterprise Challenge is a significant competition in terms of numbers involved and the challenge presented to the teams.

"To beat 14 other nations is testimony to our Welsh teams entrepreneurial abilities."

The team, who were supported and funded by the assembly government, devised a plan to introduce a reward card for employees who used public transport, called 'Cerdyn Cymru'.

The card aimed to reduce environmental damage and increase the use of public transport.

They also planned to introduce aerodynamic spoilers to reduce fuel used by busses.

Worldwide audience

The team was presented with the Global Award by Nasa astronaut Bill McArthur, who has recently returned from the World Space Station, with the event shown on a webcast.

Team member Steve Chatham, from Yale College, said: "The Wales final was a challenge in itself, but this was something else. We're really pleased in becoming the winners and feel proud to have represented Wales at such a level."

Yale College won the Wales finals in November at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, after more than 1,000 students took part.

Coleg Gwent were runners-up and were invited to joined the team for the final challenge.

The Wales team included David Howell, Stephen Chatham, Luke Price, Charlotte Allcroft, Rachel Jones and Danny Evans from Yale College, Wrexham, and Thomas Cole and Rhys Jones of Coleg Gwent.