Education Monday on Sport for Business
The GAA has struck a new partnership with the Innovation Academy at UCD which is aimed at developing business and entrepreneurship in rural communities.
It is a coup for the Association to have one of the first high profile endorsements of the new President of UCD Andrew Deeks who himself was a returning emigrant from Australia to Britain before formally taking up his new role at the start of the year.
“Entrepreneurship is at the heart of sustainable communities,” said Professor Suzi Jarvis, Founding Director of the UCD Innovation Academy.
“The GAA and the Innovation Academy UCD through this Community Entrepreneurship Programme are providing very direct support to individuals living in rural communities to take that step to becoming self-employed.
“This is about job creation, about maintaining vibrant and economically successful communities and providing a viable alternative to emigration. We greatly value this collaboration with the GAA and look forward to growing the Community Entrepreneurship Programme with the Association.”
“We are delighted to partner with UCD on this exciting innovative project and believe the reach of our organisation has the potential to bring opportunities to both members and non-members alike right across the island,” added GAA President Liam O’Neill.
“There is no shortage of talent amongst our people and this is not restricted by any means to those who live in large urban areas. I hope this initiative engages people of all ages from different backgrounds and makes a tangible difference in helping people to find career paths in the areas where they live across our four provinces.”
The Programme encourages groups in rural communities to take a fresh look at their resources and examine how they can best harness them.
It will be delivered over a period of 18 weeks and will be facilitated by entrepreneurs who apply their own experiences and knowledge to the design and delivery of the programme.
Among those lending their support to the initiative are Pat McDonagh of Supermacs and Donegal Hotelier Brian McEniff, both of whom have a long and storied history between business and the GAA.
The first four Community Entrepreneurship Programmes will be delivered over the next twelve months in Laois, Mayo, Limerick and Monaghan. It is then hoped to extend the programme further in 2015.
To find out more about the programme click here.
Lesson for Sport: The Communities brought together through sport can be harnessed for social collaboration in more areas.
Lesson for Business: Sport provides a ready made and cohesive network of like minded individuals willing to work together for a common purpose.
