Priorities:NMSU Strategic Priorities

Overview

New Mexico State University at Las Cruces is the second largest university in the state of New Mexico, and currently has more than 19,000 students. NMSU currently has a vision: the expansion of its entrepreneuship and innovation activities on campus. Therefore, NMSU, as of Spring 2014, contacted the University Innovation Fellowship Program for the sole purpose of training students on matters related to the I&E ecosystem. 

Top Strategies for the Expansion of Innovation & Entrepreneurship

1. Bi-Monthly Workshopshops

The implementation of workshops related to Innovation and Entrepreneurship is one of the greatest key ideas for getting the students involved on these matters. As of today, many workshops are held on the Aggie Innovation Space, although more promotion to these events should be given, as well as a higher level of hands-on experience, probably by bringing people specialized on these topics.

3dslogonew.png

NMSU is hosting a 3DS (3 Day Startup) starting on Sunday, April 13, 2014. This will definitely pull students interested on developing ideas, and put them to work by making them participate on online-based workshops. By having at least a bi-monthly event like these, a high number of students would be exposed to the intent of this strategic plan.

2. Required courses on entrepreneurship and innovation that allows the student to develop hands-on experience 

Currently, there are no specific courses targeting students innovation and entrepreneurship. There are courses related to some kind of business entrepreneurship, but they are merely theoretical and lack hands-on experience.

By requiring all students or at least some majors (for seeing how it actually works) to take at least 2 or 3 entrepreneurship courses with a higher level of difficulty, they could learn how to set their ideas into the ground. I would also suggest that students that are taking these classes, should be required to form part of an Entrepreneuship & Innovation Student Organization and come up with a team project by the end of one of their courses.

3. Expansion of the current Aggie Innovation Space and creation of more Innovation Spaces

The University has taken the first steps on launching an Innovation Space on NMSU College of Engineering, but more input on this space is needed, as well as more spaces like this on campus.

Seeking for future funding for Innovation Spaces like these, and for making them more technologically up-to-date is a vital action.

4. Think and Act BIG!

-Organization of local TedX events

-Bringing recognized speakers to school

-Get funding for Innovation Spaces from partnered companies.

5. Student and Faculty Coordination

A partnership between I&E Student Organization and faculty such as the Arrowhead Center for working out some of the possible strategic plans such as bi-monthly workshops would make events and workshops be of greater quality, and would definitely attract more students.

A coordination between students and faculty would allow I&E to be a bigger deal on campus, since both groups could input a greater value to these matters.

6. Networking with other Universities

Networking is the single most powerful tool marketing strategie to accelerate and sustain success for any individual or organization. By working with other Fellow Universities to implement and work on ideas together would make them be feasible, and not let them to reamin just as mere plans.

Getting and providing advise from/to others can make projects be of a greater value than just sticking to your own ideas. As they say, two heads are better than one.

Related Links

Mauricio_Garcia

NMSU