Niels Janszen on Start Your Business: We were amazed by the number of enrolments
The launch of the new specialization 'Start Your Business' within the academy International Business has generated much more interest than expected. Niels Janszen, one of the lecturers and also an entrepreneur, was pleasantly surprised by the enormous interest from students. The new program started with modest expectations but resulted in as many as 44 enrollments.
The new specialization, developed by the School of Finance & International Business (SFIB) in cooperation with the Saxion Center for Entrepreneurship (SCvO), is an English-language program offering students the opportunity to set up, run and grow their own future-proof business.
Earning credits and money
Niels started his own webshop at the age of 18. He stresses the importance of guidance in entrepreneurship, noting, "I had little guidance, but eventually got it off the ground and was even able to pay my rent with it. But with the right guidance, I could have gotten so much more out of it." He wants to give that guidance to students right now. The program allows students to develop hands-on skills, including setting up and growing a business, while also earning college credits.
Sustainable and international
A unique aspect of "Start Your Business" is its focus on international business and sustainability, which fits perfectly with Saxion's ambitions. Marc Pijffers, one of the lecturers involved, underscores the importance. "We encourage students to find innovative and sustainable solutions to contemporary and future challenges," he adds. "This fits exactly with our ambition at SFIB: to invest in (new) meaningful businesses."
The first group of students has already started working enthusiastically. "Many students know that they want to start something, but don't know exactly what. That's where we can help them." said Niels. The goal is to find a promisiong idea in the first 20 weeks and bring a (digital) product or service to the market." With this, the students gain their first experiences quickly and on a small scale. They then go further into depth regarding topics such as designing, validating, setting up, running and growing their business.
Celebrating successes
In addition to developing entrepreneurial skills, the program also provides space for personal growth, networking opportunities and reflection. "Ultimately, entrepreneurship education is not just about making sales and delivering value to your customers. It is primarily about developing an entrepreneurial attitude with relevant competencies." said Marc. "Everything the students learn and experience contributes to their development as human beings and of course we are going to celebrate every success together!" adds Niels.