From 13 to 19 November 2023, Middlesex University Dubai and the MDX Innovation Hub marked Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) by hosting a series of inspiring activities, competitions and showcases across the University involving all faculties and year groups.
A programme of carefully curated talks and activities organised by the Middlesex Innovation Hub (MIH) highlighted the various innovation and entrepreneurship activities undertaken across the University, engaging and strengthening relations with key industry stakeholders in the process.
Global Entrepreneurship Week is an international annual initiative that introduces entrepreneurship to young people in every community and from every upbringing. Since its creation, more than 10 million people from roughly 170 countries have participated in entrepreneurship-related events, activities, and competitions during GEW.
GEW includes the participation of millions of entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, researchers, educators, entrepreneurship support organisations and interested individuals. The global theme for #GEW2023 was “Entrepreneurs Thrive Here,” and activities from Middlesex Innovation Hub contribute to the 1,000+ activities that took place worldwide, helping to foster a vibrant platform of entrepreneurial and innovative spirit.
The event kicked off with awareness-raising activities from the student body, including interactive games that involved naming the entrepreneur, or submitting an elevator pitch for prizes. Our faculty also embraced the entrepreneurial spirit within classes, as we welcomed Darshana Soni Siroya, founder of Hadine Fine Jewellery to the ICON Fashion Studio for a discussion about her journey to creating her own lab-grown diamond company, despite opposition along the way.
On November 16, the MDX Innovation Hub launched the main event of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, with a keynote plenary held in the Study District at our Dubai Knowledge Park campus. The event was opened with a welcome speech from our Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director Professor Cedwyn Fernandes and Head of the MDX Innovation Hub Professor Fehmida Hussain, leading into an industry keynote speech from Rishikesh Trivedi, Founder of MarketMate and Co-founder of Enabler One.
Rishikesh said: “Being able to look at the everyday problems around you, trying to find a better solution to those challenges, working with perseverance to work out the finer details of the innovative offering, and trying to make it economically viable is not for the faint hearted. A question that each one of us should ask is: Do I want to go through life? Or do I want to LIVE my Life? Do I want to create my life? Middlesex University Dubai has a good initiative with MDX Innovation Hub, where young minds can be given guidance to be entrepreneurial.”
