1. Enterprise & Innovation Work Placement Programme

(March – June 2011)

Rubicon/ILO Motivation:
• To increase the links and awareness between Rubicon and CIT staff and students;
• To nurture and encourage the development of student entrepreneurial mindset, enterprise skills, and potential business startups.

Objective:
• To fulfil student work placement requirements by providing students the opportunity to work on their own idea for a new business, product or service;
• To offer an alternative structured and aligned work placement in the curriculum, that encourages and develops undergraduates enterprise and innovation skills and experience.

Eligibility:
Open to all CIT full-time undergraduate students that have a work placement between March and June 2011.
Open to individuals and teams (max of 3 per team).

Facilities & Support Provided by Rubicon Centre:
• Office provided in Rubicon (can accommodate up to 8 people);
• Dedicated Mentor provided ½ day a week (+ some training);
• Normal work placement supervision from academic supervisor.

Application Process:
• The student will be paid to work on developing their own idea for a new business, product or service;
• The Rubicon Centre will match the student with a ‘mentor company’;
• Application forms emailed to ilo@cit.ie  by 10th January, 2011;
• Applications assessed by Rubicon and ILO to assess suitability and matching with Rubicon based ‘mentor company’;
• Applications reviewed mid-January and decisions announced in early February 2011;
• Proposed placement in Rubicon needs prior approval by academic supervisor/placement coordinator.

Paid 10 week Placement: €1,000 over the placement period (to be confirmed)

2. Enterprise and Innovation Internship Programme

(June – Sept 2011)

Objective:
• To provide CIT undergraduate students the opportunity to develop their own business idea, new product, process or service during summer 2011;
• To nurture and encourage the development of student entrepreneurial mindset, enterprise skills, and potential business startups.

Eligibility:
The internship is not directly linked to the innovation & enterprise work placement. The Internship is open to all CIT full-time under-graduate students from any year of any full-time course (including those that have completed the innovation & enterprise work placement).

Facilities & Support Provided by Rubicon / ILO Centre:
• Office provided in Rubicon (can accommodate up to 8 people);
• Dedicated trainer/facilitator provided ½ day per week (+ some training);
• Access to a ‘business mentor’ in the Rubicon.

Application Process:
• Undergraduate student or student group submit a Business Plan to ilo@cit.ie (presentation may also be required) by 5pm Friday, 29th April, 2011;
• Business plan outlines the development of a new business, product, process or service;
• Application can be from an individual, an individual representing a team, or in teams of 2 or 3 (maximum of 3 per team, total of 8 people on Internship);
• Business Plans reviewed and successful applicants informed by mid-May 2011.

Seed Funding:
• To date, Seed Funding made available from Schools of Engineering and Business;
• Maximum of €5,000 per project (covers wages and directly associated costs e.g. feasibility study, materials, equipment).

12 weeks in duration