In an effort to centralize and grow the university’s resources that expose students to the spirit and skills necessary to think in an innovative mindset, the New Jersey Institute of Technology has created the Center for Student Entrepreneurship.
Kathy Naasz, who will serve as executive director of student entrepreneurship, said the center will help bring all existing entrepreneurship resources in one place.
“Our mission is to radically increase access to and participation in entrepreneurial efforts and learning for all NJIT students,” she said.
The new center’s emphasis on undergraduates will increase hands-on learning opportunities through a program called the entrepreneurial experience.
Students will have the chance to intern at a startup company, have an entrepreneurship course count toward their majors and earn a digital badge by participating in events such as a startup pitch or showcase.
In addition, the center will coordinate entrepreneurship courses between NJIT’s six colleges. They’ve also built a Startup AI Assistant tool, which uses custom prompts to assess business ideas from a market perspective.
Provost John Pelesko said the center will have great impact.
“The Center for Student Entrepreneurship embodies NJIT’s commitment to providing students with hands-on, real-world experiences,” he said. “We are empowering the next generation to turn their ideas into impactful ventures and to apply entrepreneurial skills to their careers. Our students will leave NJIT ready not just to participate in the economy, but to shape its future.”
