A Workshop That Opens a World of Entrepreneurship
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The importance of entrepreneurial skills today is gaining momentum. The number of start-ups founded by university community members grows constantly. However, all start-ups face the challenge of constantly devoting efforts to the development of R&D solutions, as well as giving special attention to business development skills, market demand analysis, and investment possibilities.
To enrich the university-related R&D solutions with entrepreneurship potential, Vilnius University, together with partners in the ongoing project “UNITeD“, is organising Entrepreneurship Workshops for Junior Researchers. The workshops embrace the whole spectrum of entrepreneurship-related subjects, which allows the workshop participants to equip themselves with knowledge and practical tools on market analysis, the formation of value propositions and the choice of the right business model. Within interdisciplinary and international teams, the participants develop the chosen business idea, considering intellectual property, pricing, financial planning and marketing issues.
Xavier Kevin Peña Lavado
Former participants of the workshops emphasise the added value gained out of the changing experience within the entrepreneurship workshops. Xavier Kevin Peña Lavado, a mineral processing master’s student from the University of Oulu (Finland), noted that consolidation of skills while working in groups has been very beneficial. “Being part of the workshop was a great experience. Not only did I learn about the basic concepts related to entrepreneurship, but I also delved into specific details by creating a project with a group of researchers from different fields. This hands-on experience allowed me to consolidate many concepts reviewed in class“, said X. K. Peña Lavado.
Neringa Grigarienė
Neringa Grigarienė, a PhD student in management at Vilnius University, agrees with him: “The Entrepreneurship Workshop for Junior Researchers has been a transformative journey, offering hands-on exploration from idea generation to financial planning. The emphasis on practical skills, including problem identification and collaborative business development in international teams, made the experience engaging and impactful. The workshop’s personal touch, coupled with the dedication of the coordinating team, has left me confidently equipped for entrepreneurial endeavours.“
Key benefits for those who decide to join the workshop will be not only a balanced mixture of theory and practice and access to the community of entrepreneurial mindset, but also pre-validation of entrepreneurial ideas. 2 ECTS credits will be issued for those who completed the workshop.
Justina Valentukevičė
Justina Valentukevičė, a PhD student in management at Vilnius University, was glad that during her PhD studies, she had a chance to join an entrepreneurship workshop: “It didn’t just broaden my understanding of entrepreneurship but also sparked my interest in chasing business opportunities. The lecture materials were concise, clear, and thoughtfully prepared, and the lecturers were highly energetic and knowledgeable about the topics they covered. I particularly enjoyed the hands-on exercises we did in groups. It was a great chance to get a real feel for what it’s like to put together a business plan and then pitch it to potential investors. I’d recommend this course to anyone keen on boosting their entrepreneurship skills.”
PhD and master’s students who want to discover the exciting world of entrepreneurship and unlock entrepreneurial potential are welcome to join one of the workshop cohorts. For more information and registration, click here.
The “UNITeD“ project is implemented by Vilnius University, University of Tartu, Tallinn University, University of Jyväskylä, Tallinn University of Technology, and Stockholm School of Economics in Riga.
