Hillrich is proud to be associated with the first 'Pracademic' Degree, to be held initially at Huddersfield University and to start in September 2009.
The BA (Hons) in Enterprise Development is the brainchild of one of the UK's leading Professors of Entrepreneurship, Professor John Thompson of Huddersfield University and serial entrepreneur, Chris Owen, Marketing Director of the Royal Armouries. The Degree is headed up by Theo Paphitis and is a brand new undergraduate course where the student gets to create and run the perfect turn-key business model whilst studying for a degree, a BA (Hons) in Enterprise Development.
The Pracademic (because it is both Practical and Academic) offers the opportunity for 25 students to be pioneers on the degree course which combines a theoretical business framework with a practical outcome of starting and running a business.
KEY POINTS
- Students start their own business as well as learn about the necessary business disciplines.
- They learn about business and they learn both by and from doing.
- The programme deals with the development of the product or service, the would-be entrepreneur and the actual business.
- In the first year the focus is on identifying and screening a number of ideas to find a real opportunity worth pursuing. The second year is all about developing this and starting a business. In the third year the business is up-and-running and credits are gained from this experiential learning.
- Most types of business are relevant and possible and there is some opportunity to study more technical support modules from across the University.
- Students will network with successful ‘role model' entrepreneurs, professional experts and external mentors as well as the Business School staff.
- There is on-campus business incubation support from the University's Business Mine.
All potential students will be interviewed. As well as good A-level grades or equivalent we are looking for people who have already demonstrated entrepreneurial inclinations - (and there are many ways in which this can be done!) - and who are clear about their intent to be self employed and do something for themselves. There are no ‘must-have-done' prior subjects.
The first cohort is scheduled for September 2009.
Danny Matharu of Hillrich met with Theo Paphitis of 'Dragons' Den' and is responsible for his participation in this venture. Following on from Danny's meeting with Theo, the business tycoon has agreed to be the leading figurehead of the Degree. Theo travelled up to Leeds on the 16th September for the offical press launch at the Royal Armouries.
In attendance were many members of the media including the BBC, Yorkshire Post and Insider Magazine along with 600+ delegates. The day started with the panel officially launching the Degree and taking questions from the press. Theo then took to the stage in Saviles Hall for over an hour, addressing the assembled delegates on the degree and telling all why he's backing it before fielding questions from the audience.
Click for the Invite to the Press Launch and for Photos from the Launch
If you would like more information the Pracademic Degree, please contact us using our secure form in the link to the left.