News - Enterprise Week Comes to Cornwall
University of Exeter/ University College Falmouth press release
Do Cornwall's students have what it takes to be the next Richard Branson, Anita Roddick or James Dyson? They will find out this week (17-21 November) when Enterprise Week comes to Penryn, bringing a host of activities to the Tremough Campus. Organised by the University of Exeter and University College Falmouth, who share the Campus, the events will give students an insight into what it takes to set up a business.
The week's events include a course called Ignition, in which students can gain insight into how their skill-set and mind-set matches the challenges of setting-up a business. Students will pitch their business ideas to a panel of potential investors in a Dragon's Den/Apprentice-like Business Game - Xing. Students will also learn from those who have already made it in the business world and key advisors from University College Falmouth and Unlocking Cornish Potential among others.
Female students will be inspired by a group of women entrepreneurs. An exhibition, held in Campus entertainment venue, The Stannary, will provide information at the start and end of Enterprise Week.
Professor Matthew Evans, Provost of the Cornwall Campus said: "University isn't just about getting a degree - we also educate our students on the skills they will need after graduation. Cornwall is developing a reputation for entrepreneurism with many new companies being successfully set up, some by our own graduates. We hope this week of events will encourage students to focus on their future, discover what it takes to make it in business and learn what skills they have that could help them get ahead."
"The embedding of entrepreneurialism into our culture is critical to the future success of our students," added University College Falmouth's Rector, Professor Alan Livingston. "By combining Falmouth's unique blend of creativity with commercial enterprise, students can make a significant contribution to the economic regeneration of the region."
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, added: "Can we really teach entrepreneurship? Probably not. But we can expose our talent of the future to the role models of today. We can teach them good business practice models and knowledge frameworks to prepare them for the challenges of the real world. Events like these strengthen links between academia and business and help develop students' aspirations for living and working in Cornwall."
Enterprise Week is a national initiative: http://www.enterpriseweek.org.uk
The multi-million-pound Tremough Campus is a Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative -of which the University of Exeter and University College Falmouth are two of the founding partners. It is funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall County Council. Set in 95 acres, and close to the waterside towns of Penryn and Falmouth, the Campus offers a lively student community. The University of Exeter now offers degrees in Biology, Cornish Studies, English, Geology, Geography, History, Law, Mining Engineering, Politics and Renewable Energy on the Campus, whilst University College Falmouth offers undergraduate degrees in Broadcasting, Contemporary Crafts, Digital Animation, English with Creative Writing, English with Media Studies, Film, Garden Design, Interior Design, Marine & Natural History Photography, Photography, Press Photography, Spatial Design, Textile and 3D Design as well as MAs in Broadcast Journalism, Design, International Journalism, Professional Writing and Television Production at the Penryn site.