TECHINVENT: NEW PROGRAMME FOR ENTERPRISING ENGINEERS

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN FOCUS

As of the academic year 2020-2021, the Postgraduate Programme in Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Engineering is split up. The existing programme will remain identical in structure, but will from now on only consist of in-company projects. The new counterpart aims at bachelor’s and master’s students who want to realise an ambitious team project or have their own start-up in mind. Coordinator Chrisje Haenen presents the Postgraduate Tech Innovations in Ventures and Teams (‘TechInVenT’).

Chrisje Haenen

“ With TechInVenT we merely want to guarantee the continuity of our student teams”, Chrisje Haenen explains. “The Agoria Solar Team, Formula Electric Belgium, Innovived, CORE, Flacra and iGEM have become the flagships of our faculty and the Science & Technology Group. Students who want to follow their example come to TechInVenT. But there is more. After their studies, several team members effectively stepped into entrepreneurship and started their own company. Such potential entrepreneurs are our second target group. What both groups have in common is drive and passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. As engineers, they want to leave their study and career paths and take their future into their own hands. Even though in many ways this means a leap into the unknown”.

Tailor-made

“Unfamiliar grounds require good preparation,” continues Chrisje Haenen. “TechInVenT wants to make sure that prospective engineers and entrepreneurs do not skate on thin ice. That is why we offer them a virtually tailor-made programme, in which not only technology but also professional skills are covered. We additionally provide intensive coaching by professionals”.

The main part of the programme consists of the team or start-up project (44 ECTS). Students who opt for the team project learn the tricks of the trade from an existing team, which gives them plenty of inspiration to start their own team project. Those who choose the start-up project can count on support and coaching to develop a business plan that will enable them to spread their wings after the programme. “But even those who do not yet have a concrete business idea in mind and still are enthused by entrepreneurship will find at TechInVenT the breeding ground in which new ideas can germinate,” notes Chrisje Haenen.

Technovation Hub Academy

The programme also embraces a series of workshops provided by business partners of the Technovation Hub Academy, and a package of elective courses, together accounting for a minimum of 12 ECTS.

“Technovation Hub was established in 2016 with the aim of supporting the student teams within the Science & Technology Group and giving new initiatives a chance,” says Chrisje Haenen. “Launched in September 2020, the Technovation Hub Academy organises hands-on workshops specifically for TechInVenT students on topics such as product design, artificial intelligence, 5G, IP, legislation and digital marketing. To this end, we call on the services of experienced professionals”.

The optional courses enable future team members and starters to personalise the programme even more. “ Students indeed complete this part based on their personal preferences”, Chrisje Haenen confirms. “From the immense range of courses offered by KU Leuven, they choose what interests them or what they think they will need for their project; it is all up to them. Learning to be an entrepreneur starts with entrepreneurship for your own learning”.

www.techinvent.be

Yves Persoons