Innovative Solutions to Real-World Challenges: WUR Master Students Excel in Entrepreneurship Course PREP

Over a three-week period, our students engage in six sessions, each designed to immerse them in entrepreneurial thinking and practice. The course's cornerstone is that students get the opportunity to team up and work on their own business idea or to collaborate with real organizations facing entrepreneurial challenges. This approach enables students to apply their knowledge to real business scenarios, bridging the gap between theory and practice. A standout project from this year's course is the 'Create A Reef' (CAR) initiative, conceptualized by student Maarten Matla with a personal connection to Paros Island, Greece. The island, which has seen a surge in popularity, faces significant environmental challenges, including the accumulation of End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) and the deterioration of the marine environment. The CAR project proposes to transform these ELVs into artificial reefs, tackling both issues innovatively. Currently in its pilot phase on Paros, the CAR project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of converting ELVs into thriving artificial reefs, with collaborations from local stakeholders. This pilot is a crucial step in proving the concept's effectiveness and lays the groundwork for potential expansion, showcasing the transformative power of eco-friendly artificial reef initiatives.

The PREP course stimulated Maarten to engage fellow students in his project, develop his value proposition by using the Value Proposition Canvas, and interview customers using the Mom’s technique. More importantly, the course offered insights into how stakeholder and customer engagement can help to bring the project to the next level. Experiencing the iterative, entrepreneurial process – with all its uncertainties – is key in develop an entrepreneurial mindset. This project exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit of the PREP course and demonstrates how innovative thinking can create eco-friendly solutions to pressing environmental problems. It also shows how we aim to help students in developing entrepreneurial skills and an entrepreneurial mindset – which is relevant in all spheres of life.

Contact Information For more details about the PREP course and other entrepreneurial programs at WUR, please contact Jelle.deSwart@wur.nl, Yvette.Baggen@wur.nl, Stefan.Nortier@wur.nl.
Are you interested in the CAR project? Then please reach out to Maarten (Maarten.Matla@wur.nl).