Curtin Malaysia holds inaugural Entrepreneurship Carnival
MIRI: Curtin University, Malaysia’s ( Curtin Malaysia) inaugural Entrepreneurship Carnival held recently was a great success.
The university in a statement on Tuesday said hundreds of students and staff thronged the Faculty of Business building to support the carnival.
The two- day event organised by the Faculty of Business to promote entrepreneurship and inculcate an entrepreneurial spirit amongst students, saw the participation of 11 small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in Miri, some of which are owned and operated by Curtin Malaysia alumni.
In addition, there were nine stalls operated by students from the Faculty of Business as part of an ‘Entrepreneurship Challenge’ organised in conjunction with the carnival.
The students had to form business entities, submit business plans and execute them by conducting business during the carnival.
Products and services showcased by the participating enterprises and students included locally-produced fashion accessories, essential oils, organic soap, and a variety of cottage industry foodstuff and handicraft, as well as services like e- sport services, hairstyling, nail art and foot massage by blind masseurs. There was also a wide range of food and beverages on sale.
Deputy Pro Vice- Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan, when officiating, said the carnival was an excellent initiative by the Faculty of Business in line with the emergence of entrepreneurship in Malaysia.
She added that it was a good platform to engage and motivate young people to develop their leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
“Initiatives like these are very much aligned to Curtin’s Transforming Learning initiative aimed at increasing focus on leadership and fine-tuning students’ learning experience to ensure the skills and expertise of our graduates are aligned with the changing demands of employers,” she said.
Dean of the Faculty of Business, Associate Professor Pauline Ho said that students and staff alike gained valuable insights into entrepreneurship from the carnival.
She also hoped that students participating in the entrepreneurship challenge benefitted from the hands- on experience and practical insights into how businesses can be best managed and positioned for success.
The carnival also included a talk entitled ‘ Entrepreneurial Leadership: The Violet Leader Emerging Leaders in a Digital Age’ by David Chew, Vice-President of the Asean- China Entrepreneurs Association and Sarawak Entrepreneur Association, which was well-attended by students and staff.