Location

Lisbon, Porto, Portugal

Program Description

Information Session
Friday, October 3
4-5 p.m.
Virtual Meeting Link

Students enrolled in this course will combine team-based experiences in creativity, ideation, innovation, and multidisciplinary/multicultural teaming with opportunities to meet and learn from world experts in design, business, engineering, and venture creation as part of a multicultural, interdisciplinary team.

Over the course of this four-week summer experience, students will participate in a hands-on, project-driven program focused on creativity, ideation, design, innovation, real-world business modeling, and entrepreneurship. As a collaborative partnership involving faculty from James Madison University, Bridgewater College School of Business, and the European Innovation Academy, this program is an intensive, very international and fast-paced environment where student learn from experts in the field from businesses such as Intel, Google, Microsoft and Samsung, and include a diverse, worldwide faculty from business, engineering, IT and design mentors, serial entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Approximately 350-400 participants from over 50 universities and nearly 40 nationalities, focused on 80 student-curated startups, guided by over 70 mentors and speakers at Porto (Portugal) Faculdade de Economia (University of Porto College of Business).

Joining with students from around the world, you will learn what it takes to move an idea from concept to reality. The base of your Portugal innovation experience will be in Porto, a beautiful Portuguese coastal town in the north of the country, and just 3hours from Lisbon (the capital). As a city, Porto is home to thousands of companies across various industries, including IT, tourism, manufacturing, and healthcare, as well as innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and high-tech startups. In this environment, students will explore the idea of starting a business from scratch, encounter what it takes to bring a great idea into a viable business venture, and expand their knowledge in the fields of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in a true multidisciplinary and multicultural team-based environment.

The program is four weeks (one online and traveling, three onsite), organized by the European Innovation Academy (EIA) on site in Porto, Portugal, Faculdade de Economia (University of Porto College of Business).

Watch this video to learn more.

Location Description

A once-in-a-lifetime chance to stand out in today’s competitive world, to innovate, connect, and explore Europe’s hidden gem of Portugal and its vibrant cities, Lisbon and Porto.

Director

Miguel Baltazar | baltazmbb@jmu.edu | Hart School

Maria Lugo | mlugo@bridgewater.edu | College of Business, Bridgewater College

Accommodations

In Lisbon, double rooms; in Porto, Liv Student Porto Cluster Room. It has: a shared kitchen & living room for up to 7 people (each group of cluster rooms has a private kitchen and living room), washing lounge paid separately, gym, rooftop, swimming pool, movie room, games room, lounge areas, 24/7 security.

Additional Items to Consider

• Global Collaboration: A partnership between James Madison University, Bridgewater College, and the European Innovation Academy (EIA).
• Expert Mentorship: Learn directly from leaders at Intel, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, and a worldwide faculty of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and industry professionals.
• Diverse Network: 350–400 students from 50+ universities and 40 nationalities working on 80 student-driven startups.
• Immersive Environment: Fast-paced innovation at the University of Porto College of Business, guided by over 70 mentors and speakers.

JMU Hospitality Management major and CoB Entrepreneurship minor students get HM 490 Special Studies in Hospitality and Tourism Management six-credit elective courses:

• Entrepreneurship & Tourism Ventures in Portugal (3 credits)
• Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the European Union (3 credits)

Applicant Criteria

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.0

Open to first-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students in all majors

Open to non-JMU students

No foreign language experience is required, as most people in Portugal speak English