Inclusive enterprise and entrepreneurship are at the heart of innovation at Swansea University. As a research-intensive institution, our vision is to be a leading global university that is renowned for empowering individuals to create a positive change in the world through enterprise, innovation, partnership, knowledge exchange, and transformative community engagement. We seek to create a legacy of impact and added value that enriches the lives of individuals and communities, now and in the future. As one of our five pillars, we continue to enhance our enterprise and entrepreneurial reputation by advancing an open, trusted and dynamic environment for collaboration, creativity, and opportunity-taking within our staff and student community, and with our partners. Nurturing and unlocking talent and prioritising diversity, equality, and inclusion has been key to ensuring that everyone can contribute and succeed in our enabling environment. We were proud to showcase this on a global scale in 2022 when we hosted the prestigious International Entrepreneurship Educators conference. Our programmes have established a national reputation for open innovation and leadership. As a university, we have invested in resources, programmes and networks to support enterprise skills development, experimentation and start up environment, both through curricula and extra curricula activities which has led to us being shortlisted for the Times Higher Education Awards "Outstanding Entrepreneurial University of the Year”, both 2021 and 2023. With a steadfast commitment to fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurial endeavours, and driving economic growth, Swansea University stands as a beacon for entrepreneurial excellence in higher education.
Finalist
Innovative & Entrepreneurial University of the Year Award
Swansea University
Finalist of the Innovative & Entrepreneurial University of the Year Award
Swansea University - United Kingdom
"Swansea University- Inclusive entrepreneurial excellence at the heart of innovation"
Engage on social media
@Enterprise_Swan(Student Enterprise Account)
@SwanseaUni(Main University Account)
https://www.instagram.com/enterprise_swanuni/(Student Enterprise Account)
https://www.instagram.com/swanseauni/(Main University Account)
https://www.linkedin.com/company/swansea-university-enterprise/?viewAsMember=true (Student Enterprise Account)
(Student Enterprise Account)
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Summary
Key People
Professor Helen Griffiths
Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation
Senior Leadership Team,
Swansea University
Professor Peter Dunstan
Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for Entrepreneurship, Knowledge Exchange and Partnerships
Physics,
Swansea University
David Bembo
Chief Research and Enterprise Officer
Research, Engagement and Innovation Services,
Swansea University
Emma Dunbar
Head of Engagement, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Research, Engagement and Innovation Services,
Swansea University
Kelly Jordan
Senior Entrepreneurship Officer
Research, Engagement and Innovation Services,
Swansea University
Angus Phillips
Enterprise Officer
Research, Engagement and Innovation Services,
Swansea University
Paige Windiate
Enterprise Marketing Officer
Research, Engagement and Innovation Services,
Swansea University
Joel Bowen
Enterprise Support Assistant
Research, Engagement and Innovation Services,
Swansea University
Acknowledgements
Welsh Government – Youth Entrepreneurship Grant
Higher Education funding Council Wales - Research Wales Innovation Fund
Santander Universities UK
Images
Prototype for Invent for the Planet participants
Singleton Campus
Bay Campus
Enterprise Year in Pictures
Enterprise Year in Pictures
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
Founded by Industry for Industry over 100 years ago, Swansea University originated in the dreams of miners and industrialists whose hope were that their university would provide new opportunities for their communities. With a student community that has grown from just 89 in 1920 to around 22,000 today and with more than 40 companies co-located on our campuses, we remain true to the ambitions of our founders, developing skills of tomorrow and working with industrial, commercial, and public sector partners for the benefit of our region and nation.
What makes Swansea University stand-out, is the passion for entrepreneurship by students and staff at all levels. We prioritise activities for a more integrated entrepreneurship environment, making it inclusive and accessible for all, thereby increasing the diversity of staff and students who become involved.
Examples include
-“Entrepreneurial Researcher” Masterclass series (inc. pitching, commercialisation and bench to market workshops) along with panel discussions with esteemed entrepreneurial researchers, designed for post graduate researchers to help translate their research into impact and business opportunities.
-The annual Faculty of Science and Engineering's “Invent for the Planet” international competition encourages students to solve global challenges. In 2023, 350 students from 15 international locations, representing 24 universities across the globe hacked in local teams to design solutions to the world's most pressing problems. Our Swansea team were winners at the Texas Grand Final with their waterpump solution to clean water and sanitation, by developing the concept, creating a prototype and delivering an elevator pitch in just 48 hours.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
The University has integrated IP & commercialisation, business and partnership development, research impact and student enterprise functions with Academic staff champions, all critical for supporting the delivery of our enterprise strategic ambitions. Priorities are also reflected in our other core strategic pillars for education, civic mission and research, ensuring a seamless approach.
Our approach to business growth has gained widespread attention and traction: Our model of co-location of business and academia, exemplified by the Science and Innovation Bay Campus and the Institute of Life Sciences, where industry, NHS and researchers innovate together, resulting in a quicker transition to market. Through programmes such as Agor Innovation and Accelerate, we have established a national reputation and network for open innovation, that we continue to develop in collaboration with partners across Wales including, the Wales’ Royal Academy of Engineering Hub.
Our suite of student extra-curriculum enterprise activities has been designed to provide accessibility, flexibility and inclusive support for the budding entrepreneur at any level on their start-up journey”. This includes bespoke 1-2-1 business support, start-up to CEO mentorship programme with our alumni community, opportunities to trade on/off campus, networking events, business bootcamps, accelerators programmes and our flagship Big Pitch competition.
We have a strong connectivity to successful graduate startups and spinouts that have continued to grow in the region, delivering impact, creating jobs and economic growth locally and nationally, whilst further developing Swansea’s reputation as an Entrepreneurial City of Learning.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
Swansea understands the need and demand for entrepreneurship as a fundamental requirement for development and growth of individuals and organisations.
To capitalise on our strengths and to continue to be a leading global university in Enterprise, our “Institutional Enterprise Strategy 2023-28" is set to unlock talent, create an enabling environment of support and play an active role on impact in place.
Our priorities are:
-Enhancing an open, trusted and dynamic enterprise environment.
-Unlocking talent - making it possible, easy, normal, rewarding and accessible for all.
-Supporting delivery and funding of collaborative and translational research and innovation, enterprise creation, working on cutting-edge solutions that address some of the world's most pressing challenges.
-Positioning Swansea as the partner of choice for collaboration, including with international partners.
Aligned to the Enterprise Strategy, the university is designing a new Employability & Skills Strategy, in which “enterprise” competencies, attributes and behaviours will be developed as part of University’s “Bright Future” objective. Creating “Analytical Innovators” which is one of the 5 graduate attributes in the university’s curriculum redesign to ensure that every student will experience entrepreneurial thinking and action during their time at Swansea University. (alongside, being professionally and disciplinary competent, being able to address global challenges, to be effective communicators and collaborative leaders).
One of Swansea University’s new strategic priorities is leading on the Campuses project which will support interventions and innovation in healthcare and medicine to help prevent ill-health, develop better treatments and improve patient care, while boosting sport through world class facilities.
