Entrepreneurship in the classroom

Durham College recently announced that it is already successfully meeting the demands of a new Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) report titled Emerging Stronger 2013, which indicates one of the ways Ontario can overcome its challenges with respect to economic growth is to foster entrepreneurship in the classroom. The college has several entrepreneurial initiatives underway with students and faculty from its schools of Business, IT & Management (BITM), Media, Art & Design (MAD) and Interdisciplinary Studies & Employment Services (ISES) including academic-based projects focused on small business development; the introduction of an Enactus team on campus; the development of strong relationships with local initiatives and organizations focused on entrepreneurship; a unique focus on entrepreneurship for programs traditionally based in the arts; Durham Ideas Den 2013; and more.

“Creating an entrepreneurial culture for students has been a priority for Durham College for a number of years and the Emerging Stronger 2013 report is a clear indicator of the significant contribution we are making to Ontario’s economic growth,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “As a college, it is important for us to be connected to the local community – as an institution and through our students.”

The report, which identifies Ontario’s challenges and advantages with respect to economic growth including setting out recommendations, was released at the end of January. It includes a recommendation to foster entrepreneurship in the classroom stating “If we accept that culture accounts for at least part for the entrepreneurship gap with the U.S. then we must address it via the education system. This includes building entrepreneurship via high school and university curricula, not just our MBA programs.”

Durham College is meeting the recommendation through initiatives such as the integration of a culminating project into the final semester of BITM’s Entrepreneurship and Small Business program, which sees small groups of students develop a small business on campus or in the community. Students start and operate the business within the 14-week academic term and are evaluated based on their application of key start-up success criteria, financial results and their ability to meet their financial objectives. The project is designed to help students overcome the mental barriers that can exist when it comes to executing new business ideas, allowing them to gain the confidence needed to bridge that gap while still in school and encouraging them to execute their business plans post-graduation.

In addition, it will have a strong presence at CORE21, a modern, co-working office space opening in downtown Oshawa that will act as a convergence centre for players in the innovation space to work collaboratively. Entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals will rent work space ranging from the occasional use of a desk in a common area to a multi-person office and share amenities such as Wi-Fi, meeting rooms, a lounge area and a copy centre. Staff from the Office of Research Services and Innovation will work with clients and share space on a rotating basis with faculty, staff and students from BITM’s Entrepreneur and Small Business program.

On the artistic side, MAD is committed to creating an entrepreneurial culture for students by acknowledging the shift of the creative sector to project-based and freelance employment. The curriculum includes embedded business practices in the design of new programs and the development and inclusion of those elements in existing curricula for the Graphic Design, Game Development and Music Business Management programs. Professional practices are also learned through placements in industry; graduate certificate programs are under development in areas of niche specialization to encourage entrepreneurial development and active interaction with industry on real-world projects; and the Community Collaboration – Service Learning course, offered via the new Fine Arts – Advanced program, allows students to use their skills as artists in the community working with not-for profit partners.

Through ISES, the college is heavily involved in Durham Ideas Den 2013, Durham Region’s first social innovation challenge inviting youth to submit ideas for ventures that will benefit communities for a chance to win mentorship opportunities and more than $16,000 in awards. Hosted by the Community Innovation Lab and Durham College, Durham Ideas Den 2013 offers post-secondary students an opportunity to bring their ideas to life by designing projects that reflect of one of the following five themes: re-thinking poverty, re-thinking transportation systems, re-thinking youth engagement, re-imagining the image of the region and re-thinking climate change.

An Enactus team based on the global Enactus organization, which promotes entrepreneurship and social innovation among students at the post-secondary level, was also recently initiated and launched by BITM. The team is comprised of students focused on executing a number of social entrepreneurship projects, enabling them to overcome some of the emotional barriers that can occur when starting a new business venture. The school is also committed to building strong relationships with key local initiatives and organizations focused on entrepreneurship including being a key partner for the Ignite Durham initiative led by the Spark Centre, which allowed groups of marketing and entrepreneurship students to assist with the organization of the event, including the sale of sponsorships, as part of their sales curriculum.

“Since our inception we’ve placed importance on helping students secure internships and placement opportunities that enable them to gain real-world work experience and prepare for employment – including starting their own businesses, added Lovisa. “We also provide valuable networking opportunities with organizations, companies and individuals strongly focused on entrepreneurship, allowing students to build a strong base of industry contacts and further potential new business development long before they graduate. We are proud to be producing solution-based graduates that are resourceful, able to problem solve effectively and can take on the challenge of building a new business.”