Published on: Tuesday, 21 August 2012

Cork Institute of Technology hosted its inaugural Enterprise Camp, aimed at junior cycle secondary students who explored entrepreneurship as a future career during a week-long prgoramme from Monday, August 13th to Friday, August 17th.

The Rubicon Centre on CIT’s Bishopstown campus was home to twenty five students from Cork City and County schools.  The Rubicon Centre is a dedicated facility for start-up and emerging companies and is home to over 57 knowledge based businesses.

Students were given the opportunity to be creative, work in teams and explore opportunities to ensure that they had a positive experience in a safe and entrepreneurial environment. The camp kicked off with the students meeting successful entrepreneurs such as Ciara Crossan of WeddingDates.ie and Cully and Cully.  The students all received presentations and workshops by CIT staff, visiting entrepreneurs and businesses such as Ernst and Young.

The week finished with the students presenting their business ideas to entrepreneurs based in the Rubicon, CIT staff and the CIT Enterprise mascot, ‘ACE’.  Some of the ideas during the week included: a computer light sensor; a gum shield kit; a wireless charger for phones; an air conditioned helmet and a multipurpose ergonomic shopping basket; all which showed true innovation and market potential.

Gerard O’Donovan, Head of School of Business at CIT said, “This was a great opportunity for students to learn about entrepreneurship in an environment dedicated to start-ups and emerging companies.  The week was a great success and as a result it will be an annual event on the CIT calendar.”  

Presenting certificates at the event, Dr. Brendan Murphy, President of CIT said, “With nearly 9% of the Irish population being entrepreneurs we can assume some of you will follow that route. One successful teenage entrepreneur Emil Motycka’s advice to teenage entrepreneurs is: “Start today, not tomorrow. If anything, you should have started yesterday. The earlier you start, the more time you have to mess up.”

CIT is at the forefront of entrepreneurship education and training in the region and is ideally placed to host an Enterprise Camp. “It has acted as foundation for the participants to be more entrepreneurial in their own lives, with some eventually starting their own business” said Paul Healy, Rubicon Centre Manager.  All of the projects presented addressed everyday problems.  The calibre of students exceeded our expectations and we watch with interest to see if they develop their ideas further and hopefully here at the Rubicon sometime,” Paul said.

An added bonus for the students was meeting the Munster Rugby Team while on the CIT campus.