The German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) held its First Student-Entrepreneurs Fair at the university’s premises in Halban recently. Sixty students from different departments presented a total of 22 business ideas to GUtech staff and students.
The fair was part of the “Entrepreneurship Course” conducted for all 4^th year students and held in cooperation with the SME Development Fund (SMEF).
“The SMEF will teach students how to become entrepreneurs, how to make a small business plan, and how to be involved in a project that can be realized immediately on the campus,” said Mr Raphael Parambi, CEO of SME Development Fund. Last year GUtech has joined the national efforts to support young Omanis by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SME Development Fund SMEF (Al-Namaa Entrepreneurial Club). As a part of SMEF Campus Programme, the Entrepreneurship Club was launched. The programme is dedicated to encourage, promote and facilitate entrepreneurial activities among the students.
GUtech student entrepreneurs were asked to design their own products and services and present them with creative advertising ideas and logos. “Our aim is to promote a dynamic business culture among students. We want them to become architects, engineers or geologist and at the same time business leaders,” said Russell B. Sebolino, Economics lecturer and mentor of the Entrepreneurship cours at GUtech. He added that the students active participation in the programme lead them to unlock their innovative potential which aims at contributing to the development of the national economy.
During the fair several awards were distributed; for example the award for the most creative idea was given to A.R.S Geological Institute. The brains of the idea are three Applied Geosciences female students, Ahlam, Reem and Sabra, who suggested to offer space for geological exhibitions, consultancy, product distribution, drilling equipment, lifting inspections and geological manpower pooling. A group of Engineering students created their own business idea “T&M Decorative Stones” (pictured) for the sale and distribution of stone decorations and the subcontracting of house construction.
In order to offer a better variety of architectural tools and equipment, currently not available in the market, three students of the Department of Urban Planning and Architectural Design (UPAD) created their own company named Art Haus, for the sale of arts and architectural materials, tools and services etc.
The following projects won awards in different categories: Best Logo Award – The Jumper, Best Presentation Award – Coffeelicious.  Other awardees were Jasmine Wedding and Events Centre, The Book Café, Muscat Fitness, Bento, Frozen Scoops, and AL Fitness.  As part of the course the students received a special introductory module by Al Namaa Educational University. Moreover, to meet role model business owners and managers the group of students went on various fieldtrips, for example to Al Mouj.
Caption: A student member of “T&M Decorative Stones” for the sale and distribution of stone decorations explains his business idea to GUtech professor, Prof. Dr. Rudolf Fleischer, Head of Computer Science Department.