The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Academy (IEA) is dedicated to offering undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines the chance to experience entrepreneurship and become innovators. Its mission is to inform, promote, and influence ideas about entrepreneurship throughout the IIT community. IEA members have many unique opportunities, including field trips, networking events, and participation in nationally recognized conferences and competitions.
Activities for the 2008-09 school year included the IEA kickoff barbeque, a ‘Start Your Own Business’ lunch workshop, the IEA Idea Challenge, the CEO National Conference, the 2009 Chicago Innovation Chase, the 2009 Self Employment in the Arts Conference, and the Illinois Institute for Entrepreneurship Education’s 2009 Young Entrepreneurs’ Conference. IEA continues to sustain a high level of student interest and support; attendance at these events and our monthly meetings was often standing room only.
IEA members also serve as volunteers for IPRO Day, our high school outreach workshops, executive education seminars, and other events. During the fall semester, our students visited freshman-level Introduction to Profession courses to talk about the entrepreneurship and innovation options that can be found on the IIT campus. These presentations were given in introductory architecture, business, chemical engineering, civic and architectural engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, mechanical, materials, and aerospace engineering, and physics courses. In total, these visits reached 396 new students in sixteen separate courses. There is also a focus on IEA members actually being entrepreneurs and building viable student-operated businesses.
IEA sustains a high level of student interest and support, with many high-profile activities. For full details about IEA, click here to be taken to their website.