Siberian Federal University: Trainings of Entrepreneurial Competencies at SibFU
Siberian Federal University hosted a training program aimed at developing entrepreneurial competencies to involve students in technology entrepreneurship and the creation of startups.
From October 13 to 15, a Technology Entrepreneurship — Basic Competencies. TechPred business intensive from the Open Innovations Startup Studio was held at SibFU with more than 180 students taking part in it. Participants overcame a sprint of the most complicated and tricky business tasks, learned how to apply the key characteristics of technology to create product solutions in various markets, as well as how to identify consumer problems and leverage resources to implement technology-based product solutions. The participants developed 22 passports of startup projects. For example, DNA-based food delivery, an unmanned camera device, AR-equipment for industrial activities, etc.
Besides, from October 20 to 22, students tested the Simulator of entrepreneurial competencies from the TechnoSpark Startup Studio called “Build a company. Sell a company”. It was held in the format of a business game. More than 300 participants went through situations taken from real business and tried on the role of a technology entrepreneur.
Yulia Ptashnik, organizer, associate professor of School of Mining, Geology and Geotechnology: “The trainings helped to form basic entrepreneurial competencies among students of School of Mining, Geology and Geotechnology and School of Non-Ferrous Metals and Materials Science, from the second to the sixth year of various training programs. Our students challenged their abilities to generate ideas for technology entrepreneurship as well as to start their own startup. Systematic engineering mindset allowed students to achieve certain results. For instance, during the training, one of the teams was offered the raw materials needed for 3D printing. This development allows you to save money on the purchase of materials, as well as reduce the environmental impact.”
Roman Yesin, senior lecturer of School of Space and Information Technology: “The trainings were held in a game format, which allowed not only to present a large amount of information to the participants, but also to experience many nuances of entrepreneurial activity in practice. The students really enjoyed it. Maybe they couldn’t understand everything, but they were enthusiastic in learning and understanding the information. Some of them even asked to increase the block with legal information, for them it was important. According to the results, all teams successfully completed the tasks, having thoroughly worked out the selected ideas for startups.”
Roman Kuzmich, associate professor of School of Business Management: “Students were able to try themselves in different roles — entrepreneur, engineer, investor, director and others. They especially liked the joint work with students from another school. They managed to unite during the game to supply components for other teams, to hire them for work. Games such as “Build a company. Sell a company” help students to adapt in real life.”
Anastasia Petrunina, assistant of School of Engineering Physics and Radio Electronics: “Students have demonstrated their ability to work in a team, distribute tasks and be responsible, offer ideas and publicly defend them. Students asked to hold similar events at our department. It involves them, motivates, allows to test themselves in new working conditions with new people. We will definitely participate in such events — this is a very interesting and useful experience.”
For those who want to develop in entrepreneurship, the GrowFoodTech Acceleration Program is currently underway. Its goal is to support project teams and student startup projects, as well as to improve the student ideas and strengthen their competencies.
Natalia Bakhova, head of the training program: “The training program of entrepreneurial competencies was implemented for students of Siberian Federal District, in cooperation with Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and Tomsk State University as a part of the University Technological Entrepreneurship Platform federal project. The key goal is the mass diagnostics of entrepreneurial competencies and uncovering the entrepreneurial abilities of young people at universities. At university, about 500 students have passed this diagnostics. They were from 9 SibFU schools: School of Engineering Physics and Radio Electronics, School of Space and Information Technology, School of Mining, Geology and Geotechnology, School of Non-Ferrous Metals and Material Science, Polytechnic School, School of Gastronomy, School of Trade and Services, School of Fundamental Biology and Biotechnology, School of Petroleum and Gas Engineering.“