22 February 2013
Enterprise invasion at University campus
The University of Dundee has been invaded. I repeat, the University of Dundee has been invaded.
But there is no need for alarm among students, staff and visitors as today's interlopers are neither a pillaging enemy army nor a spaceship-full of little green men but are of an altogether cuter and cuddlier ilk.
More than 250 teddy bears have been hidden across campus, and students who come across them in weird and wonderful places will have the chance to redeem them for one of the many prizes donated to event organisers The Enterprise Gym (TEG) by local businesses.
TEG has initiated the Ted Hunt as a fun way of engaging with students and getting them to think about enterprise. Upon returning their teddy to the TEG stall outside the Students' Union today, students will be asked to complete a short questionnaire asking for their views regarding entrepreneurship and business before they receive their prize.
Dozens of companies from Dundee and the surrounding area have offered prizes for the event, ranging from free pizza deals and discount vouchers for local restaurants to discounted massages from beauty therapists.
Neil Bowie, Enterprise Educator at TEG, said, "When students come to collect their prizes, we'll ask them a few questions to get them thinking about entrepreneurism and entrepreneurs, and how this relates to their own skills and ambitions," he said.
"This day wouldn't be possible without the support of so many local businesses. In seeing the amount of companies involved, and how people have succeeded after taking the decision to embrace entrepreneurism, students will gain an understanding of the possibilities that exist out there.
"We are trying to encourage them to be more self-reliant, and hopefully this event will encourage more of them to engage with the service we offer at The Enterprise Gym."
Set up in 2005, TEG is a University initiative that aims to facilitate students, from all degree pathways, to actively engage with developing their own business and entrepreneurial skills. TEG has been hosting free workshops and events, including visiting 'Super coach' events that encourage students to think about their skill set and increase their commercial awareness.
With competition for graduate jobs becoming ever more gruelling, the students attending these events are gaining valuable transferable skills that can prove to their advantage when seeking employment. The Enterprise Gym encourages students to test themselves, think more creatively about business, improve their confidence, presentation skills, and meet likeminded students with a desire to engage more fully with their potential.
Today's Ted Hunt is also designed to do just that, get more students interested and excited about business, while also providing the opportunity to test their skills as a hunter!
The TEG team will be waiting to exchange teddies for prizes from 9am. More information can be found at www.tedhunt.co.uk.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
