Drawing Out Entrepreneurial Potential

The Northern Ireland Centre for Entrepreneurship (NICENT) is cultivating entrepreneurship in science and engineering subjects.

NICENT is led by the University of Ulster in partnership with Queen's University Belfast and CAFRE/Loughry campus. Its director, Dr Pauric McGowan, says NICENT is involved in a 'culture change' exercise. "Through our engagement within HE institutions in Northern Ireland, we are encouraging students to think in new ways about their studies and their careers including new venturing as a career alternative."

Culture Evolution

The NICENT partnership engages with students and staff about entrepreneurship through curriculum development and also through its sponsorship of enterprise competitions, such as Investment Belfast's '25K competition' and the all-island Student Enterprise Award competition.

Getting Creative

More than 7,000 students across the NICENT partnership have already completed a certificated programme in entrepreneurship studies over the past five years. Concludes Dr McGowan, "everyone, potentially, is an entrepreneur; individuals who want to make a difference. The challenge to educators is to draw out the innate entrepreneurial potential in every student. We're committed at NICENT to responding to that challenge."