Munster Technological University (MTU) is a leader in inclusive, community-wide youth entrepreneurship programmes. Through the vision and hard work of the committed founding team, the first week-long, university funded Camp took place in August 2012 with 25 second-level students. Twelve years later, the dedicated MTU team now reach students from a 12,300 km² area and deliver numerous FREE Camps each year to approximately 150 young people, impacting thousands of youths over its lifetime. Since 2016, the Camps receive government funding, supported by MTU. The Camps mainly cater to secondary school students, from both urban and rural areas, with a particular focus on encouraging student participation in disadvantaged areas. The consistent objectives of the Camps are to encourage diversity, eliminate financial, access and geographical obstacles, promote gender balance and inclusive participation while being conscious of adapting appropriately over the years. To achieve these aims, the Camps are either delivered on campus, in schools or in our partner locations in rural regions. The Camps provide education on important topics like sustainable entrepreneurship and the UN SDGs. Participants benefit from partnerships with local industry, entrepreneurs, educators and community groups, gaining practical skills in digital literacy, communication and problem-solving, and intangible skills such as confidence and empathy with a deeper understanding of societal needs. The success of these initiatives is reflected in their growing popularity and positive feedback. MTU’s leadership in inclusion has been instrumental in breaking down barriers, promoting equal opportunities for youths and is a driver for social change in diverse communities. The success of these Camps is thanks to experienced innovators and strong relationships in the community inspiring young people, with the University as an agent.
Finalist
EDI Community Engagement Initiative of the Year Award
MTU Enterprise Camp and MTU GoalMine Programme
Finalist of the EDI Community Engagement Initiative of the Year Award
Munster Technological University - Ireland (Republic)
"Breaking barriers, building beliefs through inclusive innovation"
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Summary
Key People
Dr. Helen McGuirk
Head of Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence
Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence. School of Business,
Munster Technological University
Eilis Seoigh
Hincks Project Officer
Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence. School of Business,
Munster Technological University
Rebecca Robinson
Entrepreneurship Researcher
Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence. School of Business,
Munster Technological University
Anne Looney
Central Services Manager
Strategic Development,
Munster Technological University
Breda O’Dwyer
Head of Department Organisational & Professional Development
School of Business,
Munster Technological University
Monika Dukarska
Staff Officer
Academic Affairs,
Munster Technological University
Acknowledgements
Higher Education Authority of Ireland (HEA) and the Department of Education – Funding Bodies
Images
Ice-Breaker Activity 2019 - Students are enjoying the innovative, team building and decision-making Spaghetti Marshmallow Challenge
Cyber Skills Challenge 2024 - Students take part in a Cyber Skills workshop where they are tasked at solving a Cyber Security based puzzle to unlock the boxes
Design Thinking Workshop 2024 - Facilitators from a youth charity guide students in a design thinking workshop where students created their own game in a team and got other teams to test them
Field Trip 2019 – The Camps link with industry and get a tour of an Irish owned and operated manufacturing facility and business
Local Guest Youth Entrepreneur Jack Reagan 2023 - A local young entrepreneur from the rural region talks to students about his experience of being an entrepreneur
Student Presentations 2023 – Participants present their social enterprise business ideas and elevator pitch in a lecture theatre, in front of judges on the final day of Camp
Communication Activity 2023 - A student demonstrates the meaning of the Camp to them through building with LEGO
Certificates of Participation Presentation 2024 - Participants receive their certificates of participation
LEGO Serious Play Activity 2023 - A Facilitator is guiding students in a LEGO activity and the participants are having fun learning and communicating through building and imagining
Final Day of Camp 2022 - Final Day of Camp where the students presented their UN SDG business Ideas to: MTU President, Prof. Maggie Cusack, Head of the School of Business, Breda Kenny and Head of the Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence, Dr. Helen McGuirk.
IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
This is a story of Katies journey so far, a 16-year-old from a rural town. In 2023 we met Katie when she participated in our pilot rural MTU Enterprise Camp. Like many other students, Katie arrived alone and sat with unfamiliar peers but soon began to feel at ease through icebreakers and team-oriented activities. Teams were challenged with creating a social enterprise aligned with the UN SDGs. Katie and team developed "ECO-ture," an app that informs consumers about the ethical and sustainable considerations of clothing. Their dedication, creativity, and teamwork earned them the "Best Social Enterprise" award for MTU Enterprise Camp 2023.
What is extraordinary but also ordinary about this story is that Katie's story is relatable, it's a shared experience of many young people who attend the Camp. Beginning with an “interest in business” but unlocking talents. What sets Katie apart is her journey ignited by the Camp. In 2024, Katie attended the UCC Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation Summer School, winning best marketing and promotional idea and in the same year won first place at the Chartered Accountants Ireland Boot Camp Challenge, standing out among hundreds of students nationwide showcasing her problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Katie's story is a testament to the transformative power of our Camps and reinforces our decision to offer this Camp in regional areas maximising youth entrepreneurial potential and enhancing opportunities. We are immensely proud to be a part of Katie's story, as well as the countless other journeys that begin in MTU.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
Key Learnings
• The spirit of young people: The ability of young people to grasp complex issues, such as sustainability and social impact, and translate them into actionable projects has been inspiring.
• The spirit of stakeholders: Collaborating with industry, educators, and community groups has been critical to our success. These partnerships have provided invaluable expertise, resources, and real-world perspectives. We were encouraged by the strong support from stakeholders who volunteered their time to talk to students.
• Impact on students: The Camp draws students from a wide range of backgrounds—urban and rural, advantaged and disadvantaged. This diversity has proven to be a significant asset, fostering unique and innovative ideas that reflect a broad spectrum of societal challenges and opportunities.
• Impact on households: The initiatives have sparked conversations about sustainability and social entrepreneurship in households creating a ripple effect of awareness and action beyond the camp's immediate scope.
Advice for Taking a Similar Path
• Prioritise accessibility: Ensure your programs are free or low-cost, and remove geographical barriers through online or hybrid formats
• Focus on inclusion: Actively seek out participants from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds and create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued
• Build strong partnerships: Collaborate with local businesses, schools, and community organisations to enhance program impact
• Measure and adapt: Continuously evaluate your programs to identify areas for improvement and ensure they remain relevant to the needs of young people
• Celebrate successes: Highlight the achievements of participants to inspire others and build momentum for your initiative
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
The University continues to innovate, ensuring lasting positive impacts on students and widening its reach in the community. As a result, we wanted to look at ways in which we could multiply the effect of nurturing the next generation of responsible global citizens by investigating the prospect of delivering a version of the Camp to primary level students for the first time. With approval from the funder, we reallocated some funds and ran a pilot mini-Camp. We invited 26 primary school students on campus to experience a one-day innovation Camp. Due to the success of this pilot, we plan to offer this opportunity to more schools in 2024/2025 and will also remodel the programme to include schools experiencing access issues, with an emphasis on schools in disadvantaged areas, emulating our core principles and original objectives for these Camp.
We have also established a relationship with Ireland's leading youth charity organisation, Foróige. Through connecting, we established where our activities and objectives strongly align to potentially multiply the effect for youth entrepreneurship. We have formulated a plan where student participants of the Foróige “Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship” (NFTE) programme, who are all students from disadvantaged schools, will showcase their business ideas in MTU and can avail of expert advice from MTU staff. This showcase will help the student prepare for national finals and will provide students from disadvantaged schools on information and access to MTU Camps.
