Eco-Entrepreneurship is offered through the College of Earth, Ocean & Environment. The purpose of Eco-Entrepreneurship is to help students understand the environmental aspect of business decisions and the most environmentally friendly practices for entrepreneurs and business owners. Senior Geography student Megan Barry shared her experience with Eco-Entrepreneurship and how entrepreneurship relates to geography.
What is Eco-Entrepreneurship and how does it differ from other forms of entrepreneurship?
Eco-Entrepreneurship differs from entrepreneurship because it emphasizes using an eco-friendly mindset while at the same time as an entrepreneurial mindset.
How did you get involved with Eco-Entrepreneurship? Have you always been interested in entrepreneurship or is that a newfound interest?
I was in a class called Conservation: Global Ideas and we had Christina Archer, Professor Marine Science & Policy, as a guest speaker. She introduced the class to the new certificate program (as well as the ones that already were established). Initially I added the program because I had already met some of the requirements. I ended up falling in love with the entrepreneurial side and had already been in love with the eco side. It was a perfect program for me. The Eco-Entrepreneurship practicum course was fantastic. Dr. Lawson gave us all the tools we needed to come up with and develop a business plan for an eco-friendly idea.
Do you see a lot of overlap between your geography studies and eco entrepreneurship? What are their biggest differences?
Absolutely! That is one of the things I love about the program. There was overlap in my favorite subjects, like conservation and ecology, but it [eco-entrepreneurship]also showed me new things to learn about within them, such as society. The biggest difference is the way society is viewed; in Eco-Entrepreneurship we use people for feedback and ideas.
Has your understanding of Eco-Entrepreneurship affected any future plans for your life, studies, or career in any way? Has it changed or added to your understanding of geography?
In the near future I would like to continue to work on my Eco-Entrepreneurship project and get that in the works. There is a ton of potential to expand from and for me to still learn.
What was your biggest misconception about entrepreneurship before you began? OR What surprised you most about entrepreneurship?
I was surprised how much I enjoyed learning about entrepreneurship considering I had no prior experience incorporating it in how I approach situations.
Which course do you feel you’ve benefited/learned the most from, and why?
I was only a part of one certificate course but I definitely learned so much.
Finally, would you recommend entrepreneurial studies to other students, and why?
Absolutely, it teaches you the importance of taking other people’s experiences into perspective. It also creates an environment that encourages creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Horn Entrepreneurship offers seven entrepreneurship-based certificates that can help expand students' knowledge of entrepreneurship, as well as how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to a wide variety of fields.
Each certificate is a collaboration between Horn Entrepreneurship and one of the seven colleges at the University of Delaware. These certificates offer students the opportunity to enhance their creativity, problem-solving abilities, leadership skills, and much more. Current certificate members offer nothing but praise for the program, and many cite this brief introduction to entrepreneurship as a wonderful starting point for any student who may be interested in business or innovation. To learn more about the certificates offered, check out our introductory article.
These certificate programs typically only require students to take nine to ten credits in order to reach completion, and many of the current certificate program members have emphasized how manageable and beneficial the certificate program has been for them. They stress how empowering an entrepreneurial education can be, and note that entrepreneurship has evolved their understanding of their other studies as well.
Eco-Entrepreneurship is a great way to learn about the decisions business-people can make to reduce their carbon footprint. Concern for the environment has been a greater priority in recent years, and entrepreneurs could benefit from an increased understanding of how to make environmentally-conscious business decisions. Eco-Entrepreneurship is great for anyone looking to learn about environmentally friendly and ethical business decisions. The certificate's requirements are available about Eco-Entrepreneurship, click here.
For more information about other entrepreneurial certificates please visit Horn Entrepreneurship's website. Specific requirements for the Eco-Entrepreneurship Certificate are also available there.
About Horn Entrepreneurship
Horn Entrepreneurship serves as the creative engine for entrepreneurship education and advancement at the University of Delaware. Currently ranked among the best entrepreneurship programs in the US, Horn Entrepreneurship was built and is actively supported by successful entrepreneurs, empowering aspiring innovators as they pursue new ideas for a better world.
