News Article

Six students and three faculty members from College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Clarenville Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team will attend the 2012 SIFE World Cup in Washington, DC, USA this week.
 
The SIFE World Cup, which takes place Sept. 30-Oct. 2, will showcase the impact SIFE teams are achieving around the world. In addition, it will bring together an international network of more than 3,000 student, academic, and business leaders from more than 39 countries.
 
Leveraging this global event, Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) is hosting approximately 30 Canadian SIFE teams for two days prior to the start of the SIFE World Cup for the John Dobson Accelerator Program. The focus of the training will be educating teams on the difference between good projects and world-class projects.
 
“ACE Canada is offering a two-day training session for the Canadian teams attending. As well we are there to provide support to the national Canadian winner – Memorial University,” says SIFE faculty advisor Deidra Strowbridge. “It’s a great international opportunity to see teams from all over the world and to see what projects they are doing and how we can apply these ideas to our projects.”
 
Funding for the trip was accessed through the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development’s – Young Entrepreneurs and Innovation program as well as funds raised by the SIFE Clarenville team. Strowbridge says training will include critical components of a successful SIFE project, needs assessment of projects, challenges facing projects and social change and challenges.
 
Beyond the in-session training, the SIFE World Cup provides a tremendous learning opportunity as it brings together the best 39 SIFE teams from around the world. According to Strowbridge, SIFE Clarenville will witness how the best teams in the world measure and communicate their impact, and leave with a source of inspiration that will drive their own team and program growth.
 
“This is a great opportunity for the students from a cultural standpoint, but as well to see what other institutions are doing around the world,” she says.
 
During Saturday and Sunday the Canadian teams will be involved in training sessions.
 
“On Sunday they will have the opportunity to view SIFE Memorial’s presentation. Sunday evening is the opening ceremonies. Based on past national conventions this should be amazing – the atmosphere and pride that comes from each of the teams is phenomenal.”
 
Strowbridge says on Monday and Tuesday, SIFE Clarenville will watch as many of the presentations as possible while taking advantage of networking opportunities with many of the sponsoring companies.
 
“Attending the 2012 SIFE World Cup will provide for an amazing learning opportunity for both the students and coaches of the Clarenville SIFE Chapter,” says Maisie Caines, campus administrator of Clarenville campus.
 
“This is an international networking opportunity where SIFE teams get to connect and share their community outreach projects. This type of learning experience will no doubt provide the Clarenville SIFE students with new project ideas and ways to enhance current projects – all of which will translate into the continued contribution of SIFE in our local communities.”
 
News from the event will be available through a number of social media sites including Twitter through the hashtag #SIFEclarenville.
 
-30-
 
Media Contact:
 
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca