Flinders University has launched a new academic program that aims to give university graduates and postgrads key insights on launching a new venture or realising a ‘passion project’ or ‘disruptive idea’ in less than 12 months.
The University’s new Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurial Growth will provide students the insights into commercialising ideas, solving social and community-based challenges, and creating jobs of the future.
“This is not a standard student experience – participants will fully immerse into the world of ideas and exploration,” Pro Vice-Chancellor Curriculum Impact Professor, Chris Brebner, said. “They will join a community of like-minded thinkers who are looking to launch, commercialise, or explore an innovative idea in any field.”
The Diploma is aligned with the Federal Government’s new ‘Startup Year’, an initiative designed to encourage more start-ups to be established in 2024, with federal assistance to be provided straight away if needed.
Research has indicated that new businesses account for an average 20 per cent of employment and create almost half of all new jobs. Furthermore, the latest Startup Genome’s Global Startup Ecosystem Report found that the value of Adelaide’s start-up ecosystem increased 347 per cent from $348 million in 2020 to $1.56 billion in 2023.
Under the program, students will undergo an intensive ‘pre-accelerator’ program followed by an incubator program with mentors and entrepreneurs in residence at Flinders New Venture Institute, followed by another accelerator that will focus on using the right tools for scaling up with the help industry connections.
The Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurial Growth includes industry guest speakers and mentors, workshops, and opportunities for engaging with other entrepreneurs. It will also introduce participants to the South Australian start-up ecosystem through networking events and innovation district tours.
The Australian Government’s Department of Education has highlighted that, “Supporting start-up creation and the entrepreneurial skillset will play a role in growing productivity and incomes and build a workforce with the skills and capabilities to adapt and thrive in the future labour market”.
The Government has also established a new loan program to support students who are looking to get into any of the approved Startup Year courses, including the Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurial Growth, through the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) called STARTUP-HELP.
