Below is the original news release published at the time of this event. While some references are no longer current, the article provides details about important milestones in Loyalist’s history.
Belleville, Ontario, October 30, 2014 – Loyalist College is pleased to announce a new one-year post-graduate program for entrepreneurial-minded individuals, beginning in September 2015. College and university graduates with a diploma or degree are eligible to apply for Entrepreneurial Studies – Business Launch and will be considered for the program based on a competitive interview and screening process.
Off-site learning will take place in a living lab where students work side by side, building actual start-ups. A network of business advisors and mentors will help guide them throughout the process. When their start-ups are ready to launch, students will participate in industry showcase and pitch competitions, where they will present their business plans before an audience of prospective customers, employees and investors.
“This is a new model for developing entrepreneurship and we are thrilled to be accepting students now into this exceptional program,” said Loyalist College President and CEO Maureen Piercy. “Business start-ups are not just an important economic engine for the province, but increasingly, a global opportunity. This program will connect innovators with investors here in the community, who are looking to help smart start-ups get off the ground. It’s a win-win.”
Small businesses make up 98 percent of employer businesses in Canada, according to Industry Canada, creating more than 100,000 new jobs each year.
“The Quinte region is the emerging hub of an entrepreneurial ecosystem,” noted Chris King, CEO, Quinte Economic Development Commission. “There is tremendous support from the municipalities and all levels of government—local, provincial and federal. Loyalist’s program will connect entrepreneurs with a powerful network of business expertise and investors right here in the community—everything they will need to make their business succeed.”
“Their final exam is really a professional pitch, and students will be well prepared to put their best foot forward,” added Jim Whiteway, Dean of Business and Continuing Education at Loyalist College. “In this program, students won’t just get the tools they need; they’ll put those tools to work. They’ll be putting their ideas to the test.”
Interested applicants can learn more about the program by visiting the program web page, calling 613-969-1913 ext. 2294 or emailing esbl@loyalistc.on.ca.
About Loyalist College
Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, Loyalist College is a close-knit community where students and their success come first. Internationally renowned for its enriched student learning and living experiences, Loyalist provides personalized attention in small classes, rewarding field placements and superior success services. To prepare students for in-demand careers, Loyalist offers 65 full-time programs; apprenticeships; and more than 500 online, distance and in-class courses, as well as opportunities for continuing education through more than 70 university transfer agreements. The College’s wide selection of advanced diplomas, diplomas and certificates aligns with market-driven disciplines including applied sciences, biosciences, building sciences, business and management studies, health sciences, human studies, justice studies, media, arts and design, and skills and technology. In Ontario, the College’s new Digital Media Centre and the LEED® Silver certified Sustainable Skills, Technology and Life Sciences Centre are training centres of choice for students, as well as College business and industry partners. For more information on the College’s Belleville and Bancroft campuses, visit loyalistcollege.com.
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Contact: Kerry Lorimer, Director, Marketing and Communications, Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistc.on.ca, 613-969-1913 ext. 2536
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