Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) students from the Department of Business Studies and Computer Science took part in a week-long training programme on international entrepreneurship in Birmingham, UK. The I-STEP project is an EU Erasmus Plus programme which seeks to enhance the participation of the VET sector in international entrepreneurship teaching. LYIT has been developing this project along with partner organisations from Ireland, Lithuania, The Netherland and UK.
Hosted by the UK partner, LYIT students pilot tested the I-STEP materials and platform and their feedback will be used to improve the programme before it goes fully live in June 2018. A key element of the week in Birmingham was the formation of international business teams whereby one student from each country came together to work on an international business idea.
Padraig Gallagher, Project Leader from LYIT, said, “The students’ business ideas were inventive and designed by them to fulfil a real identified need. I was impressed that we had a mix of products and services and I have to commend the students on their efforts of working together throughout the week. All of our students - Aisling Bonner, Chloe Johnston, Lee Hannigan and Melanie Doherty - were tremendous ambassadors not only for Letterkenny Institute of Technology but also for our country in this international project”.
Melanie Doherty, Year 1 Accounting student added, “We covered a lot of topics while developing our international business ideas during the week and one of the key things we all took away from it was the need to effectively communicate. Pitching the business idea at the end of the week was daunting but we were all very well prepared and I am delighted to be part of the winning team along with my ‘business partners’ Stein (Holland) and Carolyna (Lithuania). We will continue to work together via Skype and email until we present our idea at final project conference in Lithuania in May.”
Check out www.i-step.eu for further information on the ISTEP Project.