NEWSROOM
Doctoral candidates’ year-long journey to develop entrepreneurial mindsets
16 November 2023
The second cohort from the Doctoral Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme has enjoyed a truly transformative experience.
Discovering their entrepreneurial potential and valuable skills for future careers – whether within or outside of the academia – are two of the major learnings for participants of the Doctoral Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme, a unique programme delivered for University of Auckland doctoral candidates by the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE).
Entrepreneurship encompasses far more than what occurs in start-ups and Silicon Valley and entrepreneurial skills are sought after in a wide range of settings, including academia, social enterprises, community and government organisations, and corporate contexts. The co-curricular programme is a relatively new offering from CIE designed to help doctoral students develop the entrepreneurial mindset that will facilitate their careers in numerous fields. Launched in 2022, the programme’s first cohort gave glowing feedback around both content and format, with participants appreciative of the chance to learn alongside a group of people with diverse interests and backgrounds. The free programme involves a year-long commitment from participants, who comprise of around 20 doctoral candidates from a diverse range of study disciplines from the University of Auckland, ranging from business to dance to science. Participants attend workshops around their core research commitments.
The two-and-a-half-day residential workshop at the beginning of this year’s programme, fostered the forming of strong relationships within the cohort.
“The residential retreat was definitely a highlight! We heard the professional and personal journeys of inspiring speakers, gained new insight into resilience, and the seed of an entrepreneurial mindset was planted.” says Tiffany Williams, medical and health sciences doctoral candidate.
Judith Marecek, CIE Manager, says “We were lucky to have wonderful impact speakers including Professor Helen Sword, Professor Cristin Print and Professor Simon Malpas, who shared their entrepreneurial passion and highlighted that an entrepreneurial approach can unlock a host of opportunities in different contexts. Seeing the students’ enthusiasm and their mindsets being expanded was very rewarding.”
One of the main goals of the Doctoral Entrepreneurship Leadership Programme is to shift the focus from pure research considerations to integrating entrepreneurial thinking and discovering the pathways that might open up to the participants.
“Throughout the programme, I loved being introduced to creative ways of expressing my research. Like, how would I build my research journey using Lego? What does my topic morph into if I describe it using a metaphor? How can I communicate meaning through creating a physical item in the Makerspace? These activities unlocked new possibilities and really progressed my thinking”, explains Tiffany.
The entrepreneurial skills developed during workshops, events, learning exercises and reflections are a definite asset irrespective of the ultimate career path chosen.
One of the main takeaways for Amanda Ruckes, creative arts and industries doctoral candidate, was confidence in herself and her future career. “I have stepped out of the box more in terms of setting up possible future income streams in a way that I enjoy, even writing my own job descriptions for future opportunities.”
Business school doctoral candidate Mohammad Iftekhar Rahman described the programme as truly transformative. He says “It wasn’t just about entrepreneurship; it was about soulful career development. The programme has given me a clearer lens to view my life’s path, making me eager to embrace challenges, personal development, and a mindset rooted in the belief that there’s no limit to what I can achieve.”
There are still a few more places available in the Doctoral Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme 2024. Applications will reopen in January 2024. Visit the programme page to learn more and apply.
16 November 2023
The second cohort from the Doctoral Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme has enjoyed a truly transformative experience.
Discovering their entrepreneurial potential and valuable skills for future careers – whether within or outside of the academia – are two of the major learnings for participants of the Doctoral Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme, a unique programme delivered for University of Auckland doctoral candidates by the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE).
Entrepreneurship encompasses far more than what occurs in start-ups and Silicon Valley and entrepreneurial skills are sought after in a wide range of settings, including academia, social enterprises, community and government organisations, and corporate contexts. The co-curricular programme is a relatively new offering from CIE designed to help doctoral students develop the entrepreneurial mindset that will facilitate their careers in numerous fields. Launched in 2022, the programme’s first cohort gave glowing feedback around both content and format, with participants appreciative of the chance to learn alongside a group of people with diverse interests and backgrounds. The free programme involves a year-long commitment from participants, who comprise of around 20 doctoral candidates from a diverse range of study disciplines from the University of Auckland, ranging from business to dance to science. Participants attend workshops around their core research commitments.
The two-and-a-half-day residential workshop at the beginning of this year’s programme, fostered the forming of strong relationships within the cohort.
“The residential retreat was definitely a highlight! We heard the professional and personal journeys of inspiring speakers, gained new insight into resilience, and the seed of an entrepreneurial mindset was planted.” says Tiffany Williams, medical and health sciences doctoral candidate.
Judith Marecek, CIE Manager, says “We were lucky to have wonderful impact speakers including Professor Helen Sword, Professor Cristin Print and Professor Simon Malpas, who shared their entrepreneurial passion and highlighted that an entrepreneurial approach can unlock a host of opportunities in different contexts. Seeing the students’ enthusiasm and their mindsets being expanded was very rewarding.”
One of the main goals of the Doctoral Entrepreneurship Leadership Programme is to shift the focus from pure research considerations to integrating entrepreneurial thinking and discovering the pathways that might open up to the participants.
“Throughout the programme, I loved being introduced to creative ways of expressing my research. Like, how would I build my research journey using Lego? What does my topic morph into if I describe it using a metaphor? How can I communicate meaning through creating a physical item in the Makerspace? These activities unlocked new possibilities and really progressed my thinking”, explains Tiffany.
The entrepreneurial skills developed during workshops, events, learning exercises and reflections are a definite asset irrespective of the ultimate career path chosen.
One of the main takeaways for Amanda Ruckes, creative arts and industries doctoral candidate, was confidence in herself and her future career. “I have stepped out of the box more in terms of setting up possible future income streams in a way that I enjoy, even writing my own job descriptions for future opportunities.”
Business school doctoral candidate Mohammad Iftekhar Rahman described the programme as truly transformative. He says “It wasn’t just about entrepreneurship; it was about soulful career development. The programme has given me a clearer lens to view my life’s path, making me eager to embrace challenges, personal development, and a mindset rooted in the belief that there’s no limit to what I can achieve.”
There are still a few more places available in the Doctoral Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme 2024. Applications will reopen in January 2024. Visit the programme page to learn more and apply.
EMAIL
CIE@AUCKLAND.AC.NZ
POSTAL ADDRESS
THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND BUSINESS SCHOOL
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