Enactus DCU reach semi-finals of the Social Entrepreneurship World Cup
Enactus DCU reached the semi-finals of this year’s Social Entrepreneurship World Cup bowing out to Egypt who have now progressed through to the final, joining Brazil, India and Canada. The final will take place tomorrow (Friday, September 11th).
Despite losing out at the semi-final stages of the competition, Enactus DCU are now ranked in the top 1% of teams globally.
It is the sixth time in nine years that Enactus DCU have represented Ireland in the Enactus World Cup. This year’s event took place virtually with 32 teams from across the world competing for the prestigious title.
The team who were crowned national champions in May progressed to this year’s semi-finals after accounting for South Africa, the Netherlands and Eswatini in the opening round.
Enactus DCU 2020 Team Ireland members include Kevin Cogan (winner of the 2019 President's Award for Innovation), School of Computing; Jack Parkes (SALIS); and Suzanne Jackson, Eoin Noonan Treacy, Emily Fulton, and Chair of the Society, Thomas Bird (all DCUBS) representing the whole team of students from across all faculties.
Their mentors are Dr Emer Ní Bhrádaigh, Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge, Dr Ciarán Dunne, SALIS, Dr Róisín Lyons and John Byrne, DCUBS.
The team brought projects, including Dyslex.ie, a software that helps the dyslexic community to increase their online reading speed, and reduces the number of errors while reading websites and online content; and Vocalise, a programme which aims to build the confidence of students and improve their public speaking and overall communication skills through a number of different events such as workshops, topical discussions and games, to this year’s competition.
The students had a significant amount of preparatory work in the run-up to the World Cup including a video presentation (edited by Noel Hatton, DCUBS) submitted this week for judging.
Team mentor Dr Emer Ní Bhrádaigh said,
“I am so impressed by the amazing work, resilience, good humour, passion and commitment to social good, that the team displayed all year, especially since the world changed for all of us last March. They display such leadership, tenacity and optimism; they have been inspired by the winning teams; and they are already working on next year’s projects.”
About Enactus Ireland
Enactus Ireland is one of 37 country organisations around the world that operates an Enactus programme, bringing together students, academics and business leaders who are committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to solve challenges in local communities. This year is the 9th year of Enactus Ireland running the programme.