University of Otago launches Master of Entrepreneurship programme in Queenstown

From July (2011), business people and aspiring entrepreneurs will have the chance to complete a University of Otago Master of Entrepreneurship programme in Queenstown.

School of Business Dean, Professor George Benwell, says the Master of Entrepreneurship programme is a logical addition to the University’s presence in Queenstown.

“We have entered an agreement with the Queenstown Resort College to have space there, which will provide our tourism researchers with a perfect location for their work. We will also be offering the Master’s programme to a region which is home to many small businesses and many aspiring business owners.

“Queenstown is only a flight away from Christchurch and Auckland as well as the east coast of Australia, so it is perfectly placed for people in those locations interested in the Master’s degree,” Professor Benwell says.

The Master of Entrepreneurship degree is a three-semester qualification, with students studying seven taught courses in the first two semesters (the Postgraduate Diploma level papers) and then working on a practicum (the Masters component) with the help of an academic supervisor in the third semester. Students can do the latter project anywhere in the world.

Classes will be taught in intensive three-day block courses which will take place every six weeks. The first classes start on Wednesday 20 July 2011. The block course system will allow students to work on their assignments in between classes. It also offers opportunity to apply their learning directly to the new businesses they are developing. International students will be able to work for up to 20 hours a week in local businesses.

Queenstown is New Zealand’s “adventure capital”. Therefore the location should be attractive to students wishing to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to set up innovative new ventures in the tourism, adventure and leisure hospitality sectors, says Professor Benwell.

He adds that Queenstown is near one of the most distinctive pinot noir growing regions in the world and the programme would also be of interest to people wishing to establish wine-related businesses.

A number of established entrepreneurs and angel investors have also moved to the Queenstown, Wanaka and Central Otago areas in recent years for business reasons, and could be available to act as mentors and advisors for any student entrepreneurs.