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Heriot-Watt's Global Enterprise Journey had a successful start with Bootcamps hosted in both Dubai and Malaysia.
Battling the snow that ground most of the UK to halt at the beginning of March, the Enterprise Team eventually made it to Dubai to deliver the inaugural international Bootcamp to a number of students, before boarding another plane to the Putrajaya Campus in Malaysia.
Everything learned during the session is transferable to other life situations, so anyone can take part.
The One Day Enterprise Bootcamp gives students an insight into what components they need to consider when first starting a business or developing a product. The day covers ideation, problem solving, the lean canvas - meaning every participants leaves with a mini business plan for their fledgling business - customer validation and product/idea development, all before everyone has to present a Dragons Den-style one minute business pitch to judges and other participants.
“Our One Day Bootcamp programme was launched in HWUK in Semester One, as a globally integrated University, we wanted to offer the same opportunities to our students in Dubai and Malaysia as well,” commented Dr Gillian Murray, Deputy Principal for Enterprise and Business.
“The Bootcamp isn't just for those students who are currently thinking about starting a business – although it is obviously of great benefit to those considering an entrepreneurial future. Everything learned during the session is transferable to other life situations, so anyone can take part.
“The Enterprise Team has been working hard to offer all Heriot-Watt students, regardless of location, access to enterprise support and training, and this is just the beginning of what will surely be an exciting and innovative Enterprise programme of activity that will also incorporate staff and our wider communities,” she said.
Enterprise is high on the agenda at Heriot-Watt University with a £19m Discovery & Innovation building currently in construction at the Edinburgh Campus, which is due to open in 2019, and the creation of a new Enterprise team who are championing entrepreneurship throughout the university, not only by providing training, but also helping with company formation, competition applications and attracting investment.
“All in all, more than 130 students signed up for the Bootcamps in Dubai and Malaysia, and in Malaysia, almost three quarters (74%) of those taking part were female – which is the first time female participants have outstripped their male counterparts,” continued Dr Gillian Murray.
Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi the Provost and CEO for Heriot-Watt University Malaysia (HWUM) added: “Education in the 21st century requires transforming the focus of the university effort from developing skills to developing mindsets. Positive, resilient and happy mindsets are becoming a prerequisite for success and entrepreneurship training is a great way to inculcate these mindets.”