International student workshop boosts entrepreneurial skills
A workshop to teach students the entrepreneurial skills needed to set up their own business took place in Kajaani, Finland, from 8 to 12 April. The fifth u-STARt workshop brought together students from seven countries - EU Member States Germany, Finland, France and the UK, as well as China, Canada and Pakistan - to learn about all aspects of writing and presenting a business plan. The event was organised by the uSTARt European entrepreneurship network, which includes the Universities of Leipzig and Essen, both in Germany, and Kajaani Polytechnic, Finland. Three u-STARt awards for the best business concepts were presented at the workshop. First prize went to Kelly Smerek of Kajaani Polytechnic for his project Internet Café Franchise, while Outi Kettunen and Maria Nivala, from the same institution, scooped second prize with their business plan for a fashion chain store. Third prize went to Essen University's Stefan Landrock for his project Vlight Instruments. uSTARt was set up in 2000 to promote entrepreneurship and start-up skills amongst students and researchers through a range of seminars, workshops, summer schools and projects. It has functioned as a separate start-up company since January 2001. It grew out of a workshop on university start-ups held under the ENTRE initiative, a three year pilot project to develop entrepreneurship in four European regions co-financed by the European regional development fund.
Countries
Germany