Innovation projects with ECTS
Are you curious about life as an entrepreneur and do you have an idea from your studies that you're considering turning into a business? You can take an academic internship, a project in practice, or another type of elective academic project with ECTS in your own (or others') startup over a block or semester.
You'll have the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge in practice, take responsibility for your own process and learning, and work through all phases from idea development to execution.
You'll have the chance to build a range of important entrepreneurial skills (hypothesis testing, data collection, communication, project management) in collaboration with others who are also passionate about applying their knowledge in practice.
Previous participants have transformed study projects into businesses, projects, and NGOs, taking advantage of the opportunity to earn ECTS points in the process. The idea can be your own, or you can contribute to the growth of another startup.
- You must have an idea or a business with development potential. You should be able to apply your academic expertise to the development of the idea and be willing to explore the conditions for realizing the idea in collaboration with potential users or customers.
- KU Innovators: You must participate in the structured program, KU Innovators, that consists of workshops and feedback sessions, providing you with a solid introduction to the entrepreneurial journey with knowledge, networking, and concrete tools. You'll receive mentoring from KU Lighthouse both during KU Innovators and up to your exam.
- Academic supervision: You must participate in guidance with an academic supervisor from your education. The academic supervisor has expertise in your field of study, the formal requirements, and learning objectives for the exam. The academic supervisor is responsible for evaluating your project and can assist you with content related to the academic learning objectives of your study area, such as problem formulation, methodology, or specific academic knowledge for the exam.
- You work independently on tasks that you identify or are given during the project, similar to a regular academic internship.
- You get access to work on your project in our Innovation Center, where we have co-working space, free coffee/tea, and a community with other innovative students.
- Find a startup company: You must find a startup to collaborate with. Contact us to find out which startups in our network are looking for interns, or find a startup yourself for your project/stay, for example, on KU Projekt & Job.
- KU Innovators: You must participate in the structured program, KU Innovators, that consists of workshops and feedback sessions, providing you with a solid introduction to the entrepreneurial journey with knowledge, networking, and concrete tools. You'll receive mentoring from KU Lighthouse both during KU Innovators and up to your exam.
- Academic supervision: You must participate in guidance with an academic supervisor from your education. The academic supervisor has expertise in your field of study, the formal requirements, and learning objectives for the exam. The academic supervisor is responsible for evaluating your project and can assist you with content related to the academic learning objectives of your study area, such as problem formulation, methodology, or specific academic knowledge for the exam.
- You work independently on tasks that you identify or are given during the project, similar to a regular academic internship.
- You get access to work on your project in our Innovation Center, where we have co-working space, free coffee/tea, and a community with other innovative students.
- Schedule a meeting with your faculty's innovation consultant at KU Lighthouse to receive feedback on your idea, insight into what it's like to intern with an idea, and assistance in planning your project.
- Read your curriculum and contact the study counseling/ internship coordinator at your studies to find out if you can do an academic internship or other kinds of elective academic projects and find the rules that apply to your education on how to get the project approved with a project description, tasks, working hours, learning objectives, exam requirements, and similar.
- Find an academic supervisor in your education who is willing to guide you on the project.
- Sign up for KU Innovators at KU Lighthouse in the block/semester where your project starts. The program is offered four times a year.
- Register for the course and exam on the self-service (See KUnet for deadlines for course and exam registration).
- You must be a student in a program at the University of Copenhagen that allows for company projects, project-oriented courses, or other elective academic projects.
- Your project must be approved by an your internship coordinator or academic advisor or your study before you start.
- The project provides you with hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, idea development, and project management.
- You have the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge to real challenges and learn about the prerequisites for developing sustainable businesses and projects.
- You can be creative and innovative in a dynamic environment at KU Lighthouse and expand your personal and professional network with students across KU and external experts.
- You acquire valuable entrepreneurial and innovative skills that give you a different profile and prepare you for the future job market, whether you choose to start your own business or not.