The College of Engineering, National University of Science and Technology, under the patronage of the Dean of the College – Dr. Ahmed Hassan Al Balushi, the annual Entrepreneurs’ Fair 2023 on 14 May 2023. The event, organized by the Department of Professional Development and Humanities, is a yearly event that showcases students’ businesses, providing them with a platform to promote their businesses, market, and sell their products. Twenty- eight student companies participated in the event and were well-received by the student community in the college. The exhibition was packed with students who came with both the intention to buy and to get inspired by seeing their fellow students explore the entrepreneurial route.
Every year the Department of Professional Development and Humanities organizes several entrepreneurship-related events that connect the students’ community to the real-world scenario and prompts them to consider the entrepreneurial route as their possible career choice. We believe that such spontaneous action-oriented activities carry greater power to inspire than just classroom-based learning. This year’s Entrepreneurs’ Fair 2023 was extra special as it was led by the leadership team of the Entrepreneurs’ and Innovators’ Club Ruwaad. The leadership team had a significant role in executing the event and, in the process, honed their people’s skills.
This event showcased successful millennial entrepreneur Qais Mohammad Al Jedyani, ‘Buun’ CEO. He talked about his experiences of honing his entrepreneurship skills further under the Youth Leadership Program 2021 and how it shaped his career in owning and running a business as a coffee supplier.
Yet another highlight of the event was the Business Idea Competition. Nine groups registered for the Business Idea Competition. This competition is held every year and invites current students to pitch their business ideas. The Business Idea Competition was won by Ms. Anfal Yaqoob Amur Al Amri’s Gul, and the second was Omar Mustafa Abdullah Al Mahruqi’s Zerowoodz – Gaming. Both businesses can be traced on Instagram.
The Department of Professional Development and Humanities takes pride in going the extra mile from entrepreneurship teaching to entrepreneurship action and getting students inspired to think entrepreneurially through Design Thinking and design products that address the needs listed by the Oman Vision 2040 and UN Sustainable Goals. The best technical projects with scope for commercialization are identified as potential projects for Seed Funds.
The National University of Science and Technology has an operational incubator that provides incubees space and support till they have found their footing and connect with the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Oman to provide support. The two incubees who won seed funding in 2022 have made significant progress in their product development.