Students from Arizona State University (ASU) are visiting DCU this week to collaborate on international entrepreneurial projects with final year students here at DCU Business School. The three groups of student are meeting face-to-face for the first time, having collaborated over the past year using web technologies.

In 2007, a pilot programme, International Student Exchange Support (ISES) was initiated between ASU and DCU.  This came about as part of the ongoing ASU/DCU strategic alliance.

Final year Business Studies and European Business students at DCU take a year-long module in New Enterprise Development, which aims to introduce participants to the theory and practice of entrepreneurship. Co-ordinated by Dr Sarah Ingle, the main academic assignment for this module is the development of a business plan from an original idea in teams of three or four students.  

In ASU, under the Edson programme, those studying at undergraduate or graduate level are provided with the opportunity to apply for substantial funding and office facilities, in order to set up their own business while still a student. In this, and the last academic year, three teams from ASU have worked with three DCU teams to develop a particular idea in an Irish/European environment.

The ISES programme greatly facilitates the internationalisation of business education in an entrepreneurial context, and both the US and Irish students involved have gained both academically and professionally from their involvement. They interact with their counterparts via email and Skype calls on a regular basis over the academic year in order to complete the required deadlines and assignments.

The Textfinity Team
 

The Energy Derived Team
 

The EzBio Team
 

The ISES Programme Mentors