Supporting Student Entrepreneurship and Enterprise at StFX University

The Wallace Family Summer Internship will provide StFX University students with a self-directed learning experience that helps strengthen entrepreneurial skills through the exploration and development of their own innovative enterprise endeavor. Students who have an innovative idea and who are interested in starting a new venture, developing a new prototype or applying innovative approaches to a particular product or service are encouraged to apply.

Interns receive coaching and assistance from StFX Innovation and Enterprise Centre’s DiscoverBox staff and StFX faculty mentors, and engage in learning activities that help them explore and develop an enterprise. Business incubation space will be provided to all interns and discussions with investors and partners are encouraged. Perhaps most importantly, interns have the opportunity to work together and participate in a learning experience for innovative student entrepreneurs – offering award winners the chance to network and be exposed to mini-seminars, guest speakers, and other entrepreneurial ideas.

The internships support full-time employment for StFX students for a 12 week period during the summer (April 26th-July 16th) period, the funding provided through the Wallace Family Entrepreneurship Fund. In 2021, there are four internships available, worth up to $6000 each or $10,000 for a team. The internships are open to students enrolled in full-time study at StFX.

Application is made by completing the attached form and submitting it by email with the required documentation to pbrophy@stfx.ca. Although not required in the application, students are encouraged to identify a faculty mentor from an appropriate area of expertise, whom they think would be a good mentor during the internship. It is anticipated that at least one meeting a month during the internship period will be required of the faculty mentor.

This year, as part of the application process, the top eight applicants will be required to submit a video pitch of their idea. The five minute pitch will be assessed by the evaluation committee and used in awarding the internships. Further information about the pitch requirements will be provided to the eight selected applicants.

Applications must be submitted via email on or before the deadline of 4:30 PM on Friday, February 19th, 2021. All applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of StFX staff and faculty, and adjudicated based on the eligibility and review criteria noted in the next section.

Eligibility

StFX students enrolled in any year of a full-time program are encouraged to apply. To be eligible, students must have been enrolled in full-time studies in a degree program at StFX during the most recent complete academic term (prior to the application deadline).

Please note that the internship is also open to students who have just completed their studies but have yet to graduate; however, preference will be given to students who are returning to studies in September.
Students may not hold another student summer internship or another externally funded summer research internship (such as a NSERC USRA or NSHRF Scotia Scholar award).

Allocation of internships is based on consideration of the following criteria:

1. Innovation and creativity: Degree of innovation and uniqueness expressed in the applicant’s New Venture proposal and at their five minute pitch.
2. Sustainability: Likelihood of New Venture continuation and growth after the internship period.
3. Motivation: Level of motivation and desire to make the New Venture a reality as expressed by the applicant.
4. Learning goals: Relevance and contribution of identified learning goals to the development of the applicant’s New Venture.
5. Academic standing: Applicants should be in good academic standing.

In addition to the internship described above, StFX will continue to promote and facilitate application to externally funded summer research internship programs such as the NSERC USRA and the NSHRF Scotia Scholars program.

On October 23rd, Innovation and Enterprise Centre (IEC) interns Kelsey Bowman and Emma Logan facilitated the first Sandbox Discover Program session focusing on an introduction to human-centered design and interviewing.

A small group of StFX students attended the first of three sessions to be held in preparation for a design challenge weekend in which the IEC Sandbox students will compete against other sandboxes across Nova Scotia at the end of November, 2018.

One highlight of the session was an activity called Tag Team. Participants took a few minutes to write down some of their individual strengths and positive attributes on sticky notes. They were then given a large poster board to collaboratively create “the ultimate team member” using some of their own skills. After they created this imaginary team member, they introduced it to myself and Emma. This was a great activity to have attendees reflect on their own strengths, as well as to see how they benefit a team. It brought out great creativity among the group and many laughs were had because of it. 

Using the above illustration to guide their introduction, the group explained that their ultimate team member speaks multiple languages, is a great listener (hence the large ears), is wearing a watch to indicate that it has great time management skills and is never late. It has a big heart and cares for all members of the team. This team member is also educated, loves to read, and never gives up.