DIGITAL LIBRARY
THE POWER OF EKIN-IT TO EMPOWER ENTREPRENEURS, AN INNOVATIVE INITIATIVE FROM THE DEUSTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTRE (UNIVERSITY OF DEUSTO)
University of Deusto (SPAIN)
About this paper:
Appears in: INTED2013 Proceedings
Publication year: 2013
Pages: 3236-3243
ISBN: 978-84-616-2661-8
ISSN: 2340-1079
Conference name: 7th International Technology, Education and Development Conference
Dates: 4-5 March, 2013
Location: Valencia, Spain
Abstract:
In July 2007 a new and innovative entrepreneurial program called "Ingenio" was launched and promoted by Deusto Foundation (Bilbao-Spain). Five years later, in September 2011, another program called "Ekin-It" (www.ekinit.deusto.es) was undertaken at the University of Deusto (Bilbao-Spain) following the philosophy and training model designed and implemented during the previous 4 years.
Thanks to Bizkailab agreement signed with the Bizkaia Council (Spain) and Deusto Entrepreneurship Centre (University of Deusto), Ekin-It is offered to undergraduate students from any of the faculties of the University of Deusto registered in their final years of any degree taking place at the University of Deusto. Last September 2012, 35 students from the different faculties started taking part in the second edition of Ekin-It in order to become entrepreneurs.
Ekin-It is an entrepreneurial awareness and training program that aims to boost and foster an entrepreneurial spirit among undergraduate students while different competences are developed, among others, self-motivation, creativity, communication, team building or fears and risks management.
Ekin-It participants are eager to be active, be committed to the group and the philosophy of the program, become team leaders and generate and apply new and innovative ideas and initiatives.
Apart from the structure of the program, this paper will be focused on the opinions, reflections and ideas expressed by the participants of EKin-It, undergraduate students that are volunteered enrolled in this program. The different opinions will help us to clarify the main objectives of the program and to think about the benefits of the program for the participants.
Keywords:
Entrepreneurial spirit, entrepreneurs, training program, university, competence development, extra-curriculum experience, empowering students.