MTU launches digital badge awards
Entrepreneurship has been a key focus of Government and education bodies for years now and budding entrepreneurs at Munster Technological University (MTU) can now earn validated micro-credentials in the form of digital badges.
These recognise skills, competencies and learning experiences acquired during students’ participation in the university’s student entrepreneurship activities.
In recent years, digital badges are increasingly being used by institutions worldwide to fully articulate and recognise skills and achievements, complementing official academic awards.
Digital badges are validated micro-credentials awarded by institutions for participation in short courses and other forms of formal and non-formal learning.
Unlike a certificate of attendance, digital badges offer tangible and practical awards for students and staff continuing to develop their skills.
Students are opened up to a world of entrepreneurship opportunities through a series of activities and challenges coordinated throughout the year by the MTU Innovation and Enterprise Office. With the introduction of digital badges, students and staff now have the opportunity to earn validated accreditation for their participation in student entrepreneurship.
Some of these activities are designed in collaboration with industry partners, like the MTU Innovation Challenge.
The aim of the Innovation Challenge is to enhance the overall student experience by encouraging students to work in multidisciplinary groups to develop novel and creative solutions for real life business problems.
Carole O’Leary, Programme Manager, MTU Innovation and Enterprise Office spoke about the development of the digital badge framework: “We are confident that this exciting new venture will lead to increased participation and engagement in student entrepreneurship at MTU and are delighted that our talented student entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to receive validated accreditation for their hard work and effort.”
She added: “The activities are also recognised on the overall MTU Framework EDGE for graduate attributes.”
MTU places a strong focus on student entrepreneurial activities, fostering entrepreneurship through the Innovation and Enterprise Office and the university’s on-campus incubators, the Rubicon Centre in Cork and the Tom Crean Centre in Kerry, where start-ups are supported.
MTU says it has produced over 500 start-up businesses which employ approximately three thousand people in the region.
MTU’s student entrepreneurship activities are particularly suitable for third level students who are interested in making their CV stand out or who aspire to be their own boss.