Students to demonstrate their innovations at upcoming Enterprise Showcase

Students from across the College have been working tirelessly on innovative projects for the inter-campus Enterprise Challenge which will be showcased in Bangor, Downpatrick, Lisburn and Newtownards Campuses from 14 to 15 September.  Student teams consist of 5 members each, formed by a combination of those who are either dominantly right or left brained characteristically, thanks to the new College Whole Brain Learning app, Ingenio.

The students will be tasked with explaining their idea using poster presentations or techniques such as the ‘Elevator Pitch’. The projects will be pitched to a panel of judges and they will be relevant to a real world application. The projects will facilitate the development of creativity, innovation and teamwork across a range of disciplines and within their vocational area.

Judges will award marks for presentation skills, concept and design quality, and commercial viability. The high profile judges from Translink, ETI and Ards and North Down Borough Council will give feedback to each time while students will determine which projects will be shortlisted for the final by voting for their favourite project via the enterprise portal. Students will be able to vote for their favourite project via the Enterprise Portal after the Enterprise Showcase.

Students are encouraged to use video and audio recordings to attract votes and finalists will be identified by 20 September and those who reach the final will obtain a £10 voucher.

SERC recognises the incredible hard work students have produced so far and wishes the very best of luck to all the students competing at the Enterprise Showcase.

Meet the judges:

Name: Mrs Gillian McCoy

Organisation: ETI

Bio: Gillian has worked in the Further Education and work-based learning sector for over 21 years. In 2013 she joined the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) as the specialist business studies inspector with responsibility for careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG), including employability and enterprise, in further education and work-based learning.  

Name: Karine McGurkin

Organisation: Ards and North Down Borough Council

Bio: Economic Development Manager at Karine of Signal Centre, Ards and North Down Borough Council. Karine has over 22 years’ experience of working within Economic Development. Karine is currently responsible for the overall management of Signal's Business Support offering and facilities. Her duties include responsibility for the Economic Development programme and the management of its budgets, working with local businesses, leveraging EU funds, including identification of new projects and funding streams, and liaison with strategic partners and agencies.

Name: David Graham

Organisation: Translink

Bio: David attended university and attained an MA Hons in International Business Management through study in Edinburgh and Sydney, before teaching English in Japan and working for a spell in Sydney. On returning to Northern Ireland he joined Translink as an Analyst for 3 months. For the last 10 years David has performed Service Delivery Management roles, which involves having overall responsibility for and managing large groups of staff, customer services, health &safety, vehicles, services, buildings and commercial performance.