Olds College Receives a Global Silver Award for Entrepreneurship

OLDS, AB, Oct. 11, 2016 /CNW/ - Olds College has been awarded a silver Award of Excellence for Entrepreneurship from the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnic Schools (WFCP). Presented on September 24, 2016 in Vitoria, Espirito Santo, Brazil, the Entrepreneurship award recognizes institutions that demonstrate excellence in integrating entrepreneurship into academic curriculum and/or implemented innovative entrepreneurial activities.

"At Olds College we work hard to create a culture of innovation, as a result entrepreneurship is embedded into everything we do," explains Dr. Tom Thompson, President of Olds College. "From our Spirit of Entrepreneurship App focused on providing training to all our students, to our learning enterprises and entrepreneurial partnerships; we take pride in being a leader in entrepreneurship and are honoured to be recognized by the WFCP. Innovation lives here." 

At Olds College, entrepreneurship is integrated across the campus using four main pillars: Training, Business Support, Learning Enterprises and Entrepreneurial Partnerships.

Under the training pillar, all students who intend to graduate must complete the Spirit of Entrepreneurship – a gamified entrepreneurship iPad app. Business, turf and horticulture programs are integrated with industry providing students the opportunity to work with small businesses.

Olds College also works to provide students with support in starting their own business through assistance in business planning, access to commercialization expertise via the Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network and the ATREK business incubator, a fund created to provide grants up to $5,000 for access to Olds College expertise, facilities and equipment.

Learning enterprises on campus include the National Meat Processing Centre and the College teaching brewery retail stores that provide students with experience in running a business.

Entrepreneurial partnerships have allowed the College to expand programing and build new facilities. The joint venture between Olds College and the Chinook's Edge School Division to create the Community Learning Centre (CLC), and the partnership between the College and College Housing (Olds) Co. to build the new on-campus residence, Centennial Village are two examples of how entrepreneurial partnerships have helped grow our campus. Olds College recently partnered with Arlene Dickinson's new business accelerator, District Ventures. Providing students an invaluable opportunity to work with District Ventures member companies. Olds College is the title sponsor at District Ventures with funds from the College's Entrepreneurial Legacy Fund.

Olds College was awarded the 2014 Gold Award of Excellence by the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics in the category of Governance for our approach to policy governance and shared leadership.

Olds College is the premier Canadian integrated learning and applied research community specializing in agriculture, horticulture, land and environmental management. Olds College first opened its doors in 1913, and now includes programming that covers Animal Sciences, Horticulture, Land & Water, Fashion, Business, Hospitality & Tourism and Trades & Apprenticeships.

SOURCE Olds College

Image with caption: "Olds College (CNW Group/Olds College)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20161011_C4698_PHOTO_EN_792858.jpg

Blayne Meek, Manager, Corporate Communications & Marketing, Online oldscollege.ca, Email [email protected], Phone [phone], Cell 587.888.9949, Fax [phone], Olds 4500 - 50 street, Olds, Alberta, Canada, T4H1R6