Objective
The Student-Club-Led Activities and Competitions initiative is designed to empower student clubs. This initiative is committed to fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among students through carefully curated activities and competitions. By engaging in these dynamic events, students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the entrepreneurial process, enhance their innovative capacities, and confront real-world challenges in imaginative ways.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this initiative is to support and motivate student clubs to organize and execute activities and competitions that embody and promote an entrepreneurial mindset. By focusing on key areas such as innovation, creativity, risk-taking, resilience, and problem-solving, we aim to cultivate an environment where students can develop the skills necessary to recognize opportunities and create impactful solutions. This initiative not only provides the necessary resources, including financial and logistical support, but also aligns with the E-Hub's core values to advance a culture of entrepreneurship across campus.
Details
Design of Activities and Competitions
Activities:
- Should focus on innovation and problem-solving, avoiding a pure emphasis on networking.
- Require a specific focus, targeted timeline, and faculty or industry expert contributions.
- Examples:
- Workshops: Teach and practice specific skills like business model canvas, email marketing, working with big data, etc.
- Mock-up/Practice Sessions: Provide a platform for students to practice techniques in front of an expert audience, such as pitching to investors or proposing new initiatives.
Competitions:
- Aim to foster innovative solutions to clearly specified problems with available guidelines and expert support.
- Examples:
- Hackathons: Intensive problem-solving sessions, possibly involving large datasets or specified problems from faculty or alumni, focusing on areas like data analytics or specific industry challenges.
- Pitch Competitions: Encourage the development of innovative solutions to societal or organizational problems, potentially focusing on areas like blockchain, fintech, or healthcare.
Presentations: Well-organized activities and competitions conclude with opportunities for students to present their solutions.
Support for Student Clubs
- Financial Support: Approved activities or competitions are eligible for financial support from the E-hub, including:
- Cash prizes of $300 and $200 for the first and second-placed teams respectively.
- Up to $300 for event catering.
- An additional $250 annual contribution to the student club's budget.
- Access to Experts/Judges: Student clubs can request assistance from the E-hub to include faculty and alumni as expert judges or panelists, providing diverse perspectives and insights.
- Web Presence: Assistance in developing online resources and a web presence for the event, including registration support.
- Promotion: Support in promoting the event across campus to maximize visibility and participation, utilizing faculty and course networks.
Resources for Participants
- Mentor Networks: Approved activities or competitions provide student participants with access to mentorship from faculty and, where appropriate, alumni.
- MIT Orbit Platform: In partnership with the MIT Martin Trust Center, the Bentley E-hub offers the MIT Orbit Platform. This tool helps students connect across the Bentley community to form teams, extending beyond their current classes.
- Entrepreneurship Resource-base: Participants will have access to a carefully selected list of resources. These resources are tagged with keywords relevant to different phases of entrepreneurship, facilitating easy and targeted access.
Communicating with the E-hub
- Initial Contact: Student clubs planning to organize an activity or competition should communicate their intent via this form. A committee of faculty members and recent alumni will provide prompt feedback.
- Acknowledging Sponsorship:
- Initial Announcement: When introducing the activity or competition, student clubs are expected to acknowledge E-hub's sponsorship, directing attention to the E-hub website and available resources.
- Final Presentation: During the final presentations, student clubs should again acknowledge E-hub's sponsorship and provide information about the E-hub's resources and website.