Officials at the press conference.
Qatar University’s College of Business and Economics (CBE) and College of Engineering (CENG) held a joint press conference recently to launch the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest. The aim of the initiative, which will run until mid-February next year, is to engage the spirit of entrepreneurship among students of all QU colleges, promote awareness of the importance of business ownership and management, and orient them in effective business plan development.
Participating students, organised into teams comprising up to four members, will compete to develop a unique and innovative business activity located in Qatar to create a product or render a service in various business areas such as technology, biotechnology, green technologies, health, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and agri-products, engineering, and education.
Information sessions will provide students with details of the competition rules, registration procedures, important dates, training courses and prizes. Additionally, student teams will participate in a series of training sessions to be oriented on how to prepare and present effective business plans.
On November 21, each team will prepare and present a two-minute pitch outlining the essence of the business idea/innovation, and submit a full business plan by December 31. The final part of the competition will see teams give a 15-minute pitch of their business plan on February 18.
Announcement of the winners will be made during the Entrepreneurship in Economic Development Forum, a regional initiative to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship among young people in Qatar and the Gulf, organised jointly by CBE and Interactive Business Network on February 24 and 25, 2014.
CENG Dean Dr Rashid Alamarri and CBE Dean Prof Nitham Hindi gave details of the contest to an audience comprising QU VP and Chief Academic Officer Dr Mazen Hasna, VP for Research Dr Hassan Al Derham, CENG Associate Dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies Prof Abdelmagid Hammuda, Director of the newly-established CBE Entrepreneurship Center Dr Mahmoud Abdellatif Khalil, and a number of QU members.
Dr Alamarri said: “This contest comes as QU is placing entrepreneurship high on its agenda to prepare our students to join the local marketplace not only as skilled professionals in a number of fields but also as business owners and entrepreneurs who will contribute significantly to the goals stated in Qatar National Vision 2030. Participating students will benefit hugely from the experience that will add value to their future personal and professional portfolios”.
The Peninsula
