MONA School of Business and Management (MSBM) at The University of the West Indies (UWI) launched the 2024 staging of its flagship entrepreneurship initiative, the Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition, on September 25, marking a significant milestone in fostering innovation across diverse academic disciplines.

Entrepreneurship, traditionally the domain of business students, is now being revolutionised through the Vincent HoSang Entrepreneurship Programme (VHEP), which is managed by the MSBM.

In his remarks at the launch event, which brought together, students, faculty and members of industry, MSBM Executive Director Dr David McBean emphasised the strategic approach taken by the programme.

“As we push entrepreneurship we must not make entrepreneurship the enemy of paid employment,” he said.

The programme brings together industry leaders and corporate Jamaica to create a unique learning experience for students from all faculties of the UWI, Mona. The competition facilitates capacity development, marketing research, investor matching, and mentoring to catalyse the creation of tomorrow’s business leaders and innovators.

Key supporters include Caribbean Food Delights through the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation; JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation; Baymac; the Development Bank of Jamaica; Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialization Centre; and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation.

Celia Alleyne Ebanks, programmes manager of JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, a gold sponsor, emphasised the competition’s impact.

“The tangible results we’ve witnessed over the years align perfectly with our mission to foster social responsibility and community engagement. This competition connects us with the next generation of innovative leaders,” she said.

Since its inception, the competition has been a cornerstone of entrepreneurial development at UWI, engaging students from all faculties in the journey from concept to commercially viable businesses.