Focused on the Future of Entrepreneurship

Highlighting the role universities play in promoting global entrepreneurship, Katia Passerini, Ph.D., Dean, College of Professional Studies, joined a panel of business, political, and academic leaders at United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan for the International Council for Small Business, Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Knowledge Summit Day.

“Entrepreneurship is not only in business schools anymore. It’s everywhere,” Dean Passerini said at the event. “There is a social aspect to entrepreneurship—there are the humanities, theology, ethics—and we need to connect all these areas.”

Held on Thursday, May 11, before a capacity audience in the UN Economic and Social Council chamber, the conference focused on MSMEs that have the potential to make a long-lasting, positive impact on global development as engines for economic growth and job creation.

A Place for Collaboration

According to Dean Passerini, CPS is at the forefront of the innovation and entrepreneurial movement taking place around the world and is building environments that encourage new, forward-thinking approaches. “We paired up with The Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University to create curriculum in entrepreneurship and innovation,” she said. A joint master’s program in Entrepreneurship and Innovation is on track for a fall 2018 launch, while the College of Professional Studies is revamping its minor in the same area in the interim.

To support this new initiative, the University is building innovation, technology and IDEA labs in St. Augustine Hall, home of the College of Professional Studies. “IDEA” is an acronym for Innovation and Design Enhancing the Arts. “The IDEA Lab is a free space where students can collaborate on their ideas,” said Kevin James ’11C, ’13MBA, Assistant Dean, who was also in attendance at the UN.

Finding Inspiration through Competition

In June, Mr. James will join Basilio Monteiro, Ph.D., Associate Professor of International Communication, in mentoring nine graduate students who will travel to the 2017 ICSB Entrepreneurship Academy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to attend and compete at the 2017 ICSB Pitch Competition.

“By connecting with students from different parts of the world, my hope is that they find that spark to identify solutions for contemporary problems,” said Dr. Monteiro. “The future of business is in small enterprises, and entrepreneurs are the ones who are best prepared to respond to the needs of the marketplace, and particularly promote effective sustainable development goals.”

According to Dr. Passerini, the competition is the starting point in developing future programs in entrepreneurship and innovation for students at St. John’s. 

“We are in the right place to be leading the charge in the area of innovation,” she said. “Our students come from different experiences and backgrounds, and offering such programs will motivate them to become the innovators of the future.”