Finnish Polytechnics Entrepreneurship Network delegation
Thursday 8 November 2007

Dr Jussi Halttunen, President, Jyvaskyla University of Applied Sciences and Chairman, FINPIN, Dr Ritva Laakso-Manninen, President, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Mr Sakari Kuvaja, Director, FINPIN Finnish Polytechnics Entrepreneurship Network, Dr Sarah Ingle, DCUBS, Mr Richard Stokes, Director Invent and Prof. Colm O'Gorman, DCUBS

DCU hosted a delegation from FINPIN (Finnish Polytechnics Entrepreneurship Network). The delegation from FINPIN which included two University Presidents, Dr Jussi Halttunen, President, Jyvaskyla University of Applied Sciences and Chairman, FINPIN and Dr Ritva Laakso-Manninen, President, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, were visiting Ireland in order to examine the Irish environment for enterprise and entreprenership.

They had a three day visit which was co-ordinated overall by Dundalk IT. They spent one day in DKIT, one day in UU and today in DCU were meeting relevant faculty and staff, listening to presentations by DCUBS, invent, Fiontar and NFTE colleagues, and discussing entrepreneurship initiatives both within and outside of the campus community.

The FINPIN delegation were very impressed with DCU's commitment to, and expertise in. the area of entrepreneurship. The multi-strand approach of Business School co-ordinated entrepreneurship modules for under and post-graduates, a thriving incubation centre, invent, which is home to the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (Ireland), and the development of the Ryan Academy of Entrepreneurship all represent a wide range of activities and depth of knowledge in the field. The presentations provoked a number of stimulating discussions and the day was concluded by an excellent address from DCU President, Ferdinand von Prondzysnski.