Fleming College

Entrepreneurship focus for annual student showcase Thursday at PGCC featuring keynote by Trent Chancellor Don Tapscott

Community based research and applied learning projects will be on display at the annual Community Innovation Forum (CIF): Knowledge and Talent in Action Showcase, co-hosted by Fleming College, Trent University, Trent Community Research Centre and the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster, taking place at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club on Thursday, March 26, 2015 from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Over the academic year, Trent and Fleming students have worked with local organizations and employers on projects relevant to local issues. Individually and in small groups, students test innovative ideas and learn entrepreneurial skills via projects proposed by local non-profits, businesses and government. The students gain academic credit and on-the-job experience by undertaking supervised research and other types of work. At the same time, project results provide new information, deepen understanding, answer questions, contribute to planning and provide the groundwork for further action in our local communities.

“Applied, purposeful learning is an important focus for Trent University, and this showcase is a chance for the community-at-large to see the locally-driven work Trent students are doing,” said Todd Barr, executive director, Trent Community Research Centre, which coordinates the community-based research projects in Peterborough City and County. “Many of the organizations working with Trent students are unable to take-on the required research themselves. Trent students provide a valuable resource for our community. ”

“Fleming business students undertake projects that give them exposure to a wide range of workplace experiences in public, private and non-profit organizations. These projects have national and international connections in places like Montreal, Mexico, Sierra Leone, the Netherlands and Cayman. Students in the technology programs use their skills to drive innovative solutions in wireless technology and computer-related design,” said Raymond Yip Choy, Fleming faculty member and coordinator of the International Business Management and Project Management programs. “Applied projects help to prepare students to be high performers in their careers and stimulate their entrepreneurial spirit. Their participation in the CIF event helps them showcase their accomplishments, gain confidence and build their network.”

The overarching theme for CIF 2015 is entrepreneurship in its many forms. Local entrepreneur Michael Skinner, social innovator Maryam Monsef and tech start-up leader Alesia Blackwood of Unlock Math will discuss entrepreneurship in a panel moderated by Maxine Mann, dean of Fleming’s School of Trades and Technology, and School of Business at 2:30 p.m. Trent University Chancellor Dr. Don Tapscott, will give a keynote address at 5:00 p.m. about youth entrepreneurship.

At this year’s showcase, 54 community-based education and applied learning projects will be eligible for awards based on their innovation, professionalism, research design, presentation and connection to social and environmental justice. Projects from Fleming focus on marketing, international trade, computer engineering technology and wireless information networking. Trent projects represent a variety of disciplines, including Sociology, Geography, Environmental Studies, Forensics, International Development Studies and Sustainable Agriculture.

Admission to the CIF event is free and the community is encouraged to attend. For more information and to pre-register, please visit www.communityinnovation.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Alison Scholl, community relations officer, Trent University (705) 748-1011 x6344 or alisonscholl@trentu.ca; or

Patti-Lynn Davis, operations officer, School of Trades & Technology, Fleming College, (705) 749-5530 x1327 or patti-lynn.davis@flemingcollege.ca