Enterprise & Innovation
We are committed to encouraging and supporting the development of entrepreneurial skills of all our postgraduates at Queen’s. We offer a range of innovative programmes, workshops and conversations to help you develop and harness your creative problem-solving skills as well as taking ideas further. You will have the opportunity to develop creative solutions that you can take forward independently or as part of a collaborative multi-disciplinary team.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Queen’sENTERPRISE AND INNOVATION OFFERING
Here is a sample of the workshops and programmes that we have running this academic year in the Graduate School
The focus of the workshops will be on building participants knowledge and understanding of tools and techniques used in Creative Problem solving and Design Thinking
Workshop 1: Empathy – an introduction to carrying out ethnographic research and unpack the findings to make meaning
Workshop 2: Play – increase your comfort and personal understanding of the creative thinking process using play
Workshop 3: Ideate – experience a series of different tools designed to help you stretch imagination and encourage divergent thinking
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This workshop will help you explore how to make money from your ideas and how to ensure they are protected. We’ll cover commercialisation; from what it is to how you can benefit from it, what funders and investors expect to see, the role of Intellectual Property, and how Queen’s can support you in turning your research into a real-life commercial project.
This workshop is delivered by a member of the IP and Licensing Team, Suzanne Walsh from the Graduate School facilitates.
The IP and Licensing Team at QUB work alongside researchers on developing and commercialising IP, either through licensing new products and technologies to commercial companies or creating new spin out companies.
Innovation After Hours invites a range of interesting guest speakers to share their own entrepreneurial journey to inspire others when designing their own career pathway. It’s a casual meet up in the evening over pizza and refreshments open to QUB students, staff and the general public.
The Curiosity Breakfast Club brings together the wider postgraduate community to connect, network and hear from our guest speakers over breakfast. There will be a wide range of topics discussed throughout the series, topics will be released in the Graduate School weekly update. Coming Spring 2023.
Coffee Conversations is a weekly series providing postgraduates with a relaxed opportunity to spark new connections, meet friends and also speak with Graduate School staff. We are here to help bring any ideas to life that may come out of these conversations. We will help you further explore the possibilities of the ‘Make it Happen Fund’ and ‘Postgraduate Led Initiatives Fund’.
Up to £1000* funding is available to support postgraduate students in kick-starting a business idea.Whether you’re at test, launch or growth stage, some additional funding could really help you to unlock new opportunities.
Find out more Make It Happen.
*Terms and Conditions apply.
Are you a non EU/EEA postgraduate student? Do you have an innovative business idea? Would you like to establish a business in the UK after graduation? The Start-up Visa might be an option for you.
We run information sessions for advice on the endorsement process. Check our Events page for dates.
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IMPACT: Local provides an exciting opportunity to utilise your skills as a postgraduate student for the benefit of wider society. This unique programme allows postgraduates to use their skills to mentor young people from St. Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre in West Belfast. IMPACT: Local is underpinned by a co-designed, partnered approach between the Graduate School and St. Peters Immaculata.
Next Programme starting: Spring 2023
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We work collaboratively with the team at Enterprise SU, who offer a wide range of support and innovation competitions. You can also meet with our Entrepreneur In Residence for a Business 1-2-1. To find out more please visit the Enterprise SU webpage.
Impact: A Social Innovation Challenge
"IMPACT is a great programme that can have a serious impact on the local communities. It is good to know that Queen's University is trying to build up Belfast. Programmes like this make me proud to be from QUB."
- Student feedback.
IMPACT creates the opportunity for postgraduate students at QUB to use their research, skills and creativity in multi-disciplinary teams to impact the community around them and create solutions to real-world social issues. Watch our short film to see how the project with St. Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre in West Belfast went and the impact it’s having.
We ran a second IMPACT programme with our project partner, the Turnaround Project. Turnaround works with young offenders to reduce the reoffending rates. We worked mainly in The Graduate School and in Hydebank College.
Interested?
For more details on any of the programmes listed, or about innovation and entrepreneurship at the Graduate School in general, please contact Suzanne Walsh via pg.skills@qub.ac.uk