Rowan University’s Think Like an Entrepreneur academy, offered annually through the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Rohrer College of Business, is a program that drew nearly 90 high school students from four states this summer. Those who completed the free four-day program qualified for three transferable college credits. Sponsored by TD Bank and produced by the Rowan Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (RCIE) within the RCB, the program encourages rising high school juniors and seniors to apply an entrepreneurial lens to challenges posed by the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The program, now in its eighth year, saw a significant increase in attendance, with roughly 30 percent more in-person students than in previous classes. This growth can be attributed to the RCB’s growing reputation as a top business school and the program’s focus on bettering humanity through entrepreneurship. The Princeton Review ranked Rowan’s entrepreneurship program #40 in the U.S., a ten-place boost in three years.
The students participating in the Think Like an Entrepreneur academy were divided into small groups and tasked with brainstorming solutions to various UN SDGs, ranging from delivering healthcare where it’s needed to ending hunger. For example, one group worked on developing a prototype for a mobile health clinic to provide no-cost medical services to low-income areas in the U.S. Another group focused on increasing crop yields in Sri Lanka by creating high-quality fertilizer from food waste.
In addition to group collaborations, the students had the opportunity to manifest their ideas through projects in Studio 231, RCIE’s “maker space,” where they built physical models of their concepts. They also worked with faculty and Rowan students in Creatives 230, an experiential learning lab designed to bridge the creative fields and entrepreneurship.
One of the key factors that attracted high school students to the program was the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to help them work more efficiently. AI tools were used to develop a range of solutions, from imagery and design to marketing and communications projects like website copy and app development.
The Think Like an Entrepreneur academy concluded with a competition for the winning project, with team Just Future taking first place. The team’s project aimed to make government activities more transparent and civic engagement more straightforward. Comprised of students from various high schools, including Kingsway Regional, Pequannock Township High School, Lenape High School, Gloucester County Institute of Technology, and Camden County Technical School, the winning team showcased the innovative and impactful ideas generated during the program.
Overall, Rowan University’s Think Like an Entrepreneur academy provides high school students with a unique opportunity to explore entrepreneurship, tackle global challenges, and develop creative solutions using cutting-edge technologies. The program’s emphasis on making a meaningful impact on society through entrepreneurial endeavors resonates with today’s youth, inspiring them to think innovatively and strive for positive change.
