Originally published 10 November 2003

Please note: Applications for the CMI Connections programme have now closed, after receiving an overwhelming response

Have you ever thought of starting your own business? Do you want to learn some new skills in running a student society? Ever thought you could make a difference with your ideas?

CMI Connections is a free, week long intensive residential programme, funded by CMI and run jointly by the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning, University of Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Bringing 60 students together from MIT, Cambridge, Warwick, Sheffield, Newcastle and Surrey the programme is intended to teach you about entrepreneurship in its broadest sense.

We cover all the costs, so you won't have to pay a thing!

Running from Monday 5th January through to Saturday 11th January at Durham University, this course will:

• Equip you with entrepreneurial skills such as networking, team building and creativity skills
• Help you to establish personal and project goals which could then be used to start your own business, run a student society etc.
• Give you access to new resources in the form of a network of students across countries/universities, faculty at universities and staff at CfEL

So if you would like to become more entrepreneurial, learn how to seize opportunity and turn dreams into reality, why not make it your new years resolution and come along to CMI Connections?

For more information and to apply please visit our website at http://www.tangledtime.com/cmi/connections/ or email Louisa Ashworth at l.ashworth@jims.cam.ac.uk or connections@cec.cam.ac.uk

Are you an undergraduate student wanting to be part of an international network of people committed to developing their entrepreneurial skills and creating the changes they want to see in their communities, businesses, and other organisations.

Mercia Institute of Enterprise is looking for 10 undergraduate students from the University of Warwick interested in attending the CMI Connections 2004 Programme from 5 - 11 January 2004 at Durham University.

Procedure for application

Complete the online application form.

A short list of University of Warwick undergraduate students will be selected. Short interview will take place at Mercia Institute, University of Warwick 17 & 18 November 2003. The 10 University of Warwick candidates will be selected & informed by 2 December 2003. Attend event from 5 - 11 January 2004 at Durham University.

CMI Connections

What is CMI Connections?

Connections is a free week long residential course, bringing together students from universities in the UK, and MIT in the USA, to learn entrepreneurial skills for the benefit of their communities, under the auspices of the Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI). CfEL is co-leading CMI Connections in 2004 with MIT.

Who is it for?

Each CMI Connections course involves several participating universities and accepts undergraduate students from those universities.

What are the aims?

We want to equip students with entrepreneurial skills - networking, team building and creativity skills. They will gain access to new resources:

• A network of like-minded students across different countries and universities
• Contact with a variety of university faculty members
• Several Entrepreneurship Centres

The tools that they gain could help them establish a new business, student society, non-profit organisation, to spearhead a change in university policy, raise money for a charity or develop a new educational programme.

What will they learn?

Participants have learnt:

• To be more entrepreneurial
• How to seize opportunity
• How to make things happen
• To make connections across other countries and universities
• How to plan projects
• About building teams
• How to harness creativity

How has the curriculum been developed?

The 2004 CMI Connections curriculum was developed by faculty and staff from MIT and the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning, University of Cambridge. It is based on, but different to, the CMI Connections 2003 curriculum.

What will their days be like at CMI Connections?

Their days will be filled with learning activities that use many different styles of learning - active participation, reflection, one-on-one conversation, large group discussion and activities. About half of the time they will spend in the large group, and about half of the time will be spent in a smaller group of about 10 to 12 students.

Connections 2004 - when is it?

The programme will run from Monday 5th January to Saturday 11th January 2004.

Where will it be held?

CMI Connections will be held at Van Mildert College, Durham University, in the cathedral city of Durham, England.

Which Universities will be involved?

Cambridge, MIT, Surrey, Warwick, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Each university will send 10 undergraduate students to participate plus two academic staff who will act as facilitators throughout the programme, particularly in the small group sessions.