Innovation Accelerator Summer Projects

INNOVATION ACCELERATOR CALL FOR APPLICATIONS -- SUMMER 2007

Applications are now being accepted for the Innovation Accelerator for Summer 2007. Information on the application process follows.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS is FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2007 -- WE WILL BEGIN REVIEWING APPLICATIONS AS THEY ARE SUBMITTED.

The Innovation Accelerator provides exceptional educational opportunities and significantly differentiates the learning process at the School of Business.

PLEASE NOTE:
Because of the proprietary nature of the projects at the Innovation Accelerator as well as the time demands of participation, applicants cannot have other employment affiliations.

The Innovation Accelerator

The Innovation Accelerator (IA) is one of the primary outreach initiatives of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation housed in the Management Department at the School of Business. The IA assists entrepreneurial ventures in addressing myriad challenges associated with the identification and capture of business opportunities through interdisciplinary project teams of students that innovatively solve complex business issues for technology-based entrepreneurial ventures under the guidance of UConn faculty, with the involvement of the senior management of the participating venture. The teams help move innovation forward and the client venture closer to market by engaging in consulting projects such as performing comprehensive market analyses and associated market-entry strategies, developing strategic roadmaps and sustainable business models, fleshing-out business plans, evaluating the market feasibility of emerging technologies, and constructing customer relationship strategies.

Team Profiles
Innovation Accelerator projects are tackled by student teams mentored by UConn faculty and business executives from partnering companies.

Project Areas
We offer a broad array of projects which will require knowledge and skill sets across all of the functional disciplines. Projects during the Summer will be conducted at the Graduate Business Learning Center in downtown Hartford.

Student Benefits

Exceptional educational opportunities
Challenging and differentiating work experience
Competitive financial compensation

Application Process - Apply today by e-mailing a cover letter detailing your academic program and concentrations together with information on your GPA and a copy of your current resume to: innovationacceleratorapps@business.uconn.edu

Applications will be reviewed as received but the Application deadline is Friday, March 2, 2007. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by e-mail. If you have questions, please contact Luke.Weinstein@business.uconn.edu

Study Abroad in Barcelona, Spain

Chelsea attended the program in the Fall of 2005, but was willing to share some of her thoughts about the program.

I arrived in Barcelona by train accompanied by two French girls I met on the way after having studied in France for 3 months during the summer. The other two girls did not speak any Spanish so when we stepped off the train in what we discovered was the wrong station it was my job to find out where we were and how to get to the right station. Although I was definitely not fluent in Spanish, I knew I was at least semi-comfortable communicating in the language which I had begun to learn years before I started French. I walked up to a man standing nearby and opened my mouth to ask for information when I froze. I couldn’t speak Spanish. I had forgotten how to ask a simple question. I could only think in English or French and it was as though the Spanish part of my brain was locked away. I stuttered a few words in an incoherent manner and then turned bewildered to the two French girls and told them that I didn’t know what had happened. After three months communicating in French, my mind was in some sort of shock and Spanish just was not working for me. In spite of this communication barrier we found the right station and each caught a taxi to go our separate ways. As the taxi driver headed towards the hotel for orientation, he chatted away and although I understand most of what he was saying I was having quite a hard time responding and I caught myself several times saying “oui.”

In just a few days my mind adjusted as I was swept up into my new life in the exciting and vibrant city of Barcelona and thanks to my new Spanish family and the CIEE staff, my Spanish came back to me very quickly. I looked back at my arrival and the language shock that I had experienced and I laughed, grateful that it had been only temporary. Over the next four and a half months I continued to build on the language skills I had acquired over the years as more and more came back to me. I quickly surpassed the level I arrived with (post-shock stage) and I am quite confident that I won’t ever forget how to ask for directions in Spanish! But this process was not always an easy one and I had a lot of help both in the classroom and in everyday life, many of which were made available through the program. The three week intensive Spanish class was a definite asset and I know that it made the transition into the regular semester courses much smoother and the coursework much easier. Also, throughout the excellent orientation which helped immensely in our introduction and adjustment to the city and the culture we were encouraged to speak in Spanish at all times which contributed to our progress with the language. And I would always encourage a student to choose to live in a homestay as I can honestly say that it is the best way to live the culture and really learn the way of life in addition to acquiring the language. Although I had my days where I wished I had a little more privacy or freedom like my friends that lived in the dorms I know that my experience was a million times better having lived with a family. While many of the material discussed in the classroom related to the Spanish and Catalan culture highlighted and explained many aspects of the society in which I was living, my daily life in the homestay is what allowed me to truly understand and fully experience the culture. Also, I would definitely recommend taking the CIEE core course Cultural Encounters: Catalunya as a Case Study as it really enhanced my understanding of the duality of the culture and society that exists in Barcelona.


When deciding on a study abroad program I was initially concerned with the structure of the CIEE Barcelona program since the number of semesters of Spanish I had taken would put me over the limit for the Business and Society program. Although I was a business student, I was advised to simply apply for the Liberal Arts program and I would still be able to take a few business classes in Spanish at the university’s international business school. This ended up working out well and although I only took one business class at ESCI (Escola Superior de Comerç Internacional), this one class changed my mind about pursuing a business-related career, but in a positive way. I had begun to think that I was not compatible with the money hungry, power driven business world I had thus far been exposed to and that perhaps I would simply go on to a different career after finishing my undergraduate studies. I enrolled in a class in Barcelona called Deontología Empresarial and I had no idea what the title meant and really wasn´t too sure of the content either since the syllabus was quite vague and general and included unfamiliar acronyms and terms. It turned out to be an excellent class discussing ethical issues in the international business world and the concept of corporate social responsibility. The class was taught by a great professor who truly believed in what he was teaching in addition to being very encouraging, concerned for his students and open about his own profession. He even invited the entire class to come visit his office in the corporate social responsibility department of the headquarters of the Barcelona based Mango clothing company. Taking this class opened my eyes to the opportunities that exist in this more ethical realm of business and was a truly invaluable part of my study abroad experience in Barcelona.

Study Abroad in Florence (semester programs)

The semester program in Florence does not offer business courses that can be used towards your major, but it is a wonderful place to have a study abroad experience, and the program at Palazzo Rucellai is a UConn program and is very well run. Every semester, there are a large number of UConn students in the program, from majors in a variety of schools and colleges.

Here are some reflections from Lauren, one of our business majors who studied in Florence:

As I walked around the city of Florence I found myself surrounded by little pizzerias, small boutiques, and “mom and pop” style restaurants. The quaint streets and shops of Florence had managed to retain their antique character; their culture has not yet given way to the vastly commercialized modern landscape of contemporary society. Large corporations and skyscrapers do not yet adulterate the city’s time-honored streets. Within the boarders of the entire city, I discovered the presence of solely two large billboards. Such a sum seemed astonishing when juxtaposed with innumerable advertisements which adorn the facades of New York architecture.

The absence of large industries and “big businesses” in Florence perplexed me. In the absence of large corporations, what constituted a “good” job? I wondered if there was a place for the corporate employee within Florence, and if there was, did they make more money than the old man who owned the small pizzeria down the street? As a marketing major, I wondered if my specialized sector of business even existed within the context of such a city.

I sought to uncover the answers to such inquires, asking several of my Italian friends what a “good” job was in Florence. They each responded with a disparaged expression, advising me that I must distinguish the differences between the Italian and American cultures. Perhaps my friend Christian answered my question most eloquently when he said, “You must understand that there is no definition of a “good” job in Italy. In our culture, a job is not what is important. In America, upon meeting a new acquaintance, the first thing a person typically divulges is their name, followed quickly by their professional title. Here, in Italy, we disclose details of our family, our friends, our hobbies, or passions, and only thereafter would we mention our job. Here, it is the person, not their job which constitutes their worth and status within society. Our professions constitute only a portion of our beings. A man who owns a small pizzeria has a “good” job, not because of his daily salary, but rather, because he owns a shop where his friends and family can come to visit and chat; a special piece a family’s heritage which can be passed down from generation to generation.”

Stories such as Christian’s can truly come to highlight the worth of such an experience; an experience which reshaped my outlook on life and what truly constitutes happiness. I believe that it is all too often that we become “stuck” in our own lives. Stuck in the same routines and the same schedules; stuck in society’s narrow definitions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, of what is prestigious, and of what truly constitutes worth in ones life. Studying abroad provides an opportunity to experience new outlooks, views, and perceptions of life. It provides one with the opportunity to step back and re-evaluate ones life, goals, and ambitions. It allows the individual to view the world through their own distinctive lens.

The rest of the reflections from this student can be found here.

Study Abroad in the Netherlands

We have not had students participate in a program at the University of Maastricht, Center for European Studies, The Netherlands in a number of semesters, but if students would be interested, the program is quite good and would be a great partner for the School of Business.

Please contact Jeff Rummel if this is something you might be interested in. Courses offered there would be both pre-business and business courses.

Honors thesis work at the Financial Accelerator

This spring, two students are working at the Financial Accelerator with groups of MBA students on projects for ING and for SS&C Technologies. As part of their work, they will end up writing their thesis from the experience, working with the faculty at the Accelerator and with Jeff Rummel.

This kind of experience will be available in coming semesters. In addition to the Financial Accelerator, it will be possible to arrange for thesis work to be done with the edgelab in Stamford or with the Student Managed Investment Fund. Please contact Jeff Rummel if you have questions or are interested in pursuing this.

Study Abroad in Brisbane, Australia

The University of Queensland is in Brisbane, Australia, and UConn students can take courses there through a program with the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA - there are other alternatives). Marisa spent the fall semester of 2006 there and her are some of her thoughts on the experience:

For anyone that has always dreamed of going abroad Australia will easily surpass any expectations you may have. Upon arrival you quickly fall into the slower paced, "no worries" lifestyle and fall in love with the country. Although it can be a bit scary going as far away from home as possible, it is well worth the journey. There are a few different programs that students can study through, but IFSA-Butler rises above the rest in terms of the amount of help they offer you from the moment you are accepted until well after you arrive home. Starting with an unbelievable 4 day orientation and the chance to meet your new "mates" and university's program representative it only improves. Throughout the semester Butler provides students with events such as a welcome pizza party, a family home stay, sea kayaking with whales and a farewell dinner. This program is also one of the few if not the only program which transfers the grades you receive in the Australian schooling system into the United States' grading system. Also, with representatives right off campus any problems that may arise whether it be something back home or something abroad they are very willing to help as best they can.

The University of Queensland lies just outside the city of Brisbane and is in a great location when it comes to travelling. Being about half way down the east coast, in Southeast Queensland, it has plenty of beaches within 2 hrs. When it comes to longer journeys few flights are longer than 1.5 hours and can be found for very cheap through virginblue.com.au. For the weekends you want to stay around Brisbane, it is a little bit larger than Hartford and very easy to walk around. Every weekend there are plenty of open air markets and different events planned. Transportation in and out of the city is extremely easy with buses and ferries running ever 10-30 minutes between campus and downtown. With many past UCONN students having attended this university there are already many classes with UCONN equivalents, making it much less stressful. Lastly, although the campus is 30,000 students depending on how you get involved and where you choose to live it can often times make it feel very small.

When it comes to picking your housing there are a few different options. The program offers living in a residential college with Australians, a Butler apartment with other study abroad students or living with a family. Living in the residential college gives a student the chance to encounter what Australian college life is like, and it is definitely VERY different from in the US. These colleges consist of approx. 300 people with tradition being the most important uniting fact. Meals are eaten together, often times with a formal dinner 1-4 times a week where Harry Potter like robes are worn, there is a head Warden, and events which further encourage the small community at a 30,000 person campus to unite. The thing to be cautious about is that living in Emmanuel College costs approx. $1500 more than living in the other colleges!! Some students choose to live in off campus Butler apartments with other study abroad students. Although this provides for more independence it also makes it harder for these students to absorb the culture. Therefore, many of them decide to get heavily involved with a team or group on campus. Lastly, the program has just recently decided to let students organize their own housing if they desire, and therefore there are not many details known about this.

Study Abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark

A few students have spent a semester in Copenhagen, and here is a note from Sara, who spent the Spring of 2006 in that program:

The Denmark International Study program was by far my best and favorite college experience. The program is run through the Danish government, and as a result, is afforded so many great advantages, such as professional faculty that are experts in their fields, as well as field trips all over Europe and parts of Asia. The classes are taught in English and housing arrangements range from apartments in the heart of Copenhagen, to dorm style 'kollegiums', to home stays with Danish families.

There are roughly six programs that you can choose from (increasing every year) with over 50 subject areas- including learning Danish! The business program, known as International Business and Economics (IBE) has management, finance, and marketing classes, with the opportunity to visit Danish companies during a weekend fieldtrip, and other European cities during a week long fieldtrip (ex. Berlin, Germany and Warsaw, Poland while I was there).

DIS also gives its students a two week break in March for your own personal travels (I visited Russia during one of these weeks- or, as well as Amsterdam, Netherlands, and my sister in Florence, Italy).

Other things to note: DIS has two summer program options as well that are 5 and 7 weeks long. Secondly, learning Danish was a lot of fun, but not necessary because everyone in the city speaks adequate English (they start learning English in 4th grade).

UConn Ambassadors

Students who have gone participated on Study Abroad programs often serve as ambassadors for those programs. I have started to ask a few people to provide me with some of their thoughts about the program they attended. When I receive something, I will post it here.

If you went to a program, and would like to provide some additional information, feel free to send an email to Jeff Rummel.