Supporting Student Entrepreneurship and Enterprise at StFX University

Innovative Enterprise Internships

The Wallace Family Summer Internship will provide StFX University (StFX) students with a self-directed learning experience that helps strengthen entrepreneurial skills through the exploration and development of their own innovative enterprise endeavour. 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 Extension Innovation and Enterprise Centre staff and 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 27th-July 17th) period, the funding provided through the Wallace Family Entrepreneurship Fund. In 2020, 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 this form and submitting it with the required documentation by emailed to the Extension Department at 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 pitch their idea during an Innovation Pitch event planned for March 6th, 2020. 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 selected applicants.

Applications must be submitted via email on or before the deadline of 4:30 PM on Friday, February 14th, 2020. 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
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.

GIVE: Girls in Venture & Entrepreneurship is a two-day summer camp for girls ages eight and nine. This camp will be divided into a learning and creating component, and a selling and marketing component. Students will learn the basic skills of an entrepreneur on the first day, and spend some time creating/packaging a product which they will have the opportunity to sell at the Antigonish Street Fair (Stroll the Main) the following day. GIVE will be donating a portion of their sales to a local charity.

Various games and activities will take place on the first day of the camp to teach the girls about costs, revenue, and profit. This will be important background information for them to receive prior to making their first sales to ensure that they are able to set appropriate prices for the items that they are selling.

Be sure to stop by the Antigonish Street Fair on July 4 between 10 AM and 3:30 PM to see what fun products Girls in Venture & Entrepreneurship have to offer.

• Find the 2019 application : https://www.innovatenortheast.ca/innovation-centre/give-girls-in-venture-entrepreneurship-camp/