Mona School of Business and Management at The University of the West Indies (UWI) launched the 2024 staging of its flagship entrepreneurship initiative, the Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition on September 25, 2024, marking a significant milestone in fostering innovation across diverse academic disciplines.
Entrepreneurship, traditionally the domain of business students, is now being revolutionised through the Vincent HoSang Entrepreneurship Programme (VHEP) which is managed by the Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM). In his remarks at the launch event which brought together, students, faculty and members of industry, Executive Director, Dr David McBean emphasised the strategic approach taken by the programme.
“As we push entrepreneurship we must not make entrepreneurship the enemy of paid employment…” hence this programme brings together industry leaders and corporate Jamaica to create a unique learning experience for students from all faculties of the UWI Mona.
The competition, a beacon of innovation, facilitates capacity development, marketing research, investor matching, and mentoring to catalyse the creation of tomorrow's business leaders and innovators.
Key supporters include Caribbean Food Delights (CFD) through the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation (VHFF), JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, Baymac, the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialization Centre (MECC), and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC).
Celia Alleyne Ebanks, Programmes Manager of JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, a Gold Sponsor, emphasised the competition's impact: "The tangible results we've witnessed over the years align perfectly with our mission to foster social responsibility and community engagement. This competition connects us with the next generation of innovative leaders."
The 2023/24 competition winner, Shanya Francis, a Human Resource Management major, impressed judges with her innovative Sim's All-Purpose Pimento Liquid Seasoning to take home the top prize last year. In sharing her experience in the programme, Francis emphatically declared: "The launch event motivated me, the boot camps equipped me with knowledge, and my mentor provided all the support I needed."
The diverse backgrounds of applicants create a vibrant, cross-disciplinary learning ecosystem, preparing participants for today's ever-changing professional landscape. The strategically aligned partnerships with industry leaders foster innovation and prepare the next generation of adaptable leaders to support the economic growth of the nation.
