An impactful decade of entrepreneurship at MTU
Marking ten years since its founding, Munster Technological University’s (MTU) Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence launched their impact report earlier this week.
The team, led by Dr Helen McGuirk since 2018, consists of researchers, entrepreneurs and lecturers who have worked on over 40 projects at the award-winning centre. The team of internationally respected scholars have published on diverse topics such as the value of the silver economy, entrepreneurship in education and enterprise for minority groups.
These national and international projects and publications have produced training programmes and informed enterprise policy at regional and EU level.
Speaking at the launch of the Hincks Centre impact report, Dr Helen McGuirk said: “I am truly grateful to the visionary founders Mr Gerard O’Donovan and Dr Breda Kenny, and value their continued support and encouragement.
“Let us celebrate together the past 10 years and embrace the decades ahead, working together for a sustainable economy and just society."
Locally, the Hincks Centre delivers innovative approaches to training for adults and young people. For example, Hincks Centre training and group facilitation was central to the MyTownMyPlan programme in eight towns across the Cork region in 2019/20. The free programme supported groups to produce their own proposals for community projects and enterprises.
Building on the hugely successful annual enterprise camp at MTU’s Bishopstown campus, this past summer the Hincks team ran a sister enterprise camp in Clonakilty providing a unique opportunity for young people from across West Cork.
Internationally, the Hincks Centre has worked with 175 partners across 33 countries and has hosted international conferences, delivered training programmes to groups as far away as Vietnam and South Africa and supervise PhD and Masters students.
One of the current 12 research projects led by the Hincks Centre is the European funded project called Target Circular. Working with the Ludgate Centre in Skibbereen and partners in Finland, Norway, and Iceland, Target Circular is taking cutting-edge research and methods, adapting and piloting their use with the goal of supporting the circular transition and increased entrepreneurial success in general.
Research Fellow Dr Niall O’Leary who is leading the project, said: “There is a great opportunity at the moment to inform business advisory practice using new research. It is our hope that more research will continue to be published in the coming years that should inform and increase the efficacy of entrepreneurial training and support significantly – translating eventually to increased entrepreneurial success.”
To celebrate the 10 year anniversary, MTU Arts Office's Create le Chéile Arts Project Fund supported the commission of an artwork commemorating the ten years at the Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence at MTU by sculptor Eoin Turner.
The commissioned artwork reflects the essence of the Hincks Centre and honours the legacy of Reverend Thomas Dix Hincks. The sculpture symbolises collaborative work, growth, past achievements, and future ambitions, ensuring that arts and culture are integral to all university celebrations and milestone events.