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Business leaders of the future

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Brigid Veale
Published
22 May 2007
Local high school students will explore new business opportunities in the Tweed region as part of an innovative competition organised by Southern Cross University.

Year 11 Business Studies students from two schools – Tweed River and Wollumbin high schools – are about to take part in the 2007 Enterprising Students Competition, which will identify and evaluate new businesses and industries that could be viable in the region.

Students from the Faculty of Business at Southern Cross University’s Tweed Gold Coast campus will serve as mentors for the high school students. Some, like, Murwullimbah’s Melanie Thomas, will return to their old stomping grounds to guide a new generation of prospective business leaders.

“We’ll be talking with the students and explaining the criteria they can use to assess the suitability of businesses,” said Melanie, a former Wollumbin High School student and now third-year Bachelor of Business student.

“As well as considering the market for the business, the financing and risk assessment, we’ll be encouraging the students to compare the resources needed against what is available in the region.”

The competition is one of the community projects being developed by the University’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team. The global SIFE program challenges university students to make a difference in their communities and to develop their leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practising and teaching the principles of free enterprise.

“The Enterprising Students Competition is one of a number of projects driven by the Southern Cross University students as a way of supporting the community with their expertise,” said Dr Jennifer Harrison, SIFE-Southern Cross University co-ordinator.

“It’s all about developing business-related skills in the context of the region in which they live. Who knows? It might even inspire some business development that will provide future employment.”

Entries are due by June 12 and in the true spirit of entrepreneurship, the competition is being sponsored by the Tweed City Shopping Centre at South Tweed, which has offered $500 in prizes. Entries will be judged by members of the SIFE team’s business advisory board, which consists of university academic staff and local business people.