Student awards - shortlisting and judging
|
|
An initial shortlisting of entries from Northern Ireland will take place after the closing date and those selected will proceed to the overall shortlisting of entries received from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
At this stage a selection panel, consisting of entrepreneur and co-founder of Sherland Entertainments Inc, Mr Jay Bourke, and representatives of the sponsors - Invest Northern Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Cruickshanks - will shortlist entries on the basis of the following assessment criteria. Short-listed entrants will then proceed to the final stages of the competition to be held in June 2008.
Assessment criteria
1) Project Concept - is the proposed product/service innovative or an import substitution. Is it feasible and is there a market for it?
2) Planning and Projections - has the market beenthoroughly researched and potential competitors identified? Have the capital investment and operational cash requirements been identified and estimated realistically?
3) Professionalism of Approach - have all aspects of the business been fully considered and are the necessary practical skills in place to deliver on the concept?
4) Presentation - is the submission presented clearly, in an easy-to-read format?
The final
Short-listed finalists will be required to present their projects in person to a judging panel drawn from academia, the development agencies and the business community in the final of the competition. Therefore, all selected finalists must be available to attend the presentation of projects at the final stage. The College Entrepreneurs of the Year will then be announced, together with all the winners, at a high profile awards ceremony.
A media relations campaign will publicise, to the widest public audience, all the projects selected to go forward to the final stage of the Awards.
