Entrepreneurs are bringing their stories to third-level students in an effort to encourage more people to back themselves with new business ideas.

Previous winners and former finalists of the Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year programme will today launch “EOY University” at Trinity College, with Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn. The programme will involve successful business leaders across all disciplines getting involved in seminars and question-and-answer sessions with students across the country.

Pilot event

A pilot event in University College Cork recently attracted about 450 students, confirming for the entrepreneurs the value of the idea. The programme “has been developed to inspire Ireland’s future entrepreneurs to think differently and explain through the experiences of the EOY entrepreneurial alumni that entrepreneurship is a suitable and honourable career choice,” the group said in a statement.

Each speaker series event will feature three or four entrepreneurs from different disciplines.

Beyond business

They will be joined by Frank O’Keeffe, partner in charge of the awards programme at Ernst Young, and will address students, lecturers and administrators. The entrepreneurs want to reach beyond traditional business students.