EPIC Trains Over 100 Incoming AUA Students in Entrepreneurial Thinking
3 min readYEREVAN, Armenia — The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) of the American University of Armenia (AUA) recently concluded the inaugural summer session of its STRIVE Pre-U pre-incubation program. STRIVE Pre-U, an offshoot of the popular EPIC STRIVE, is a condensed 4-week program specially designed for graduating high school students preparing to enter AUA. STRIVE Pre-U introduces incoming AUA students to the world of entrepreneurship and, more importantly, teaches them the entrepreneurial way of thinking.
Following the successful completion of the pilot STRIVE Pre-U last spring, word quickly spread around about the program. Considering the tremendous interest in a repeat program, EPIC opted to run a condensed, modified version in the summer. STRIVE Pre-U is designed to serve as the initial introductory stage of a potential startup journey for aspiring Armenian entrepreneurs. The program is specially designed for talented individuals to familiarize themselves with entrepreneurship and begin understanding what it takes to succeed. Entrepreneurs are trained to think a certain way: where others see a problem, entrepreneurs see an opportunity. Based on that premise, the program seeks to strengthen participants’ leadership skills, interpersonal traits, and emotional intelligence, planting in them seeds for growing creativity, flexibility, and critical thinking to identify and solve problems.
A group of 102 enthusiastic incoming AUA students started the program on June 13. The curriculum is designed to give them a head start on university life and familiarize them with a new way of thinking. The majority of these students have been admitted to an AUA undergraduate program in Computer Science, Data Science, Business Administration, as well as Law, English and Communications, Environmental Studies, or Politics and Governance.
EPIC polled students in STRIVE Pre-U to learn about their impressions and experiences.
- Julieta Sargsyan, aspiring economist
“I consider this 4-week course very beneficial for several reasons: First and foremost, I learned the basic principles of entrepreneurship and developed meaningful relationships with my peers. Additionally, this was a great opportunity to get acclimated to the AUA environment while gaining basic knowledge about business concepts. It has made me more open and receptive to new ways of solving business problems and seizing opportunities.”
- Cesar Makhoul, incoming environmental scientist
“Studying economics at this early stage of my education was motivational and fascinating. I think the STRIVE Pre-U program has also helped me gather my ideas about starting a new business. I acquired some valuable entrepreneurial skills to forge ahead.”
- Nane Khachatryan, future data scientist
“I’ve always been interested in and fascinated by entrepreneurship, so I was highly motivated to participate in this program. I believe STRIVE Pre-U aligned perfectly with my academic and career aspirations and interests. I am excited to have started my academic journey at AUA with a newly acquired skill set, which I’m confident will serve me for quite a long time. STRIVE Pre-U has helped me grow an entrepreneurial mindset. It has equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully bring my ideas to fruition.”
- Miqayel Grigoryan, aspiring lawyer
“From a young age, I have been fascinated by the intricacies of the business field. Evolving markets, challenges of decision-making, and the potential for growth and innovation have captured my attention. The opportunity to gain a well-rounded understanding of entrepreneurship was invaluable. I also had a chance to meet new people who share the same passion, which created the right atmosphere for everyone to share ideas and viewpoints. I am confident that the program has equipped me with the necessary skills, experience, and network to succeed in my future endeavors.”
Sona Martirosyan, the STRIVE Pre-U program lead, had this to say about the graduating students and their efforts: “It was an absolute blast to share these four weeks with some of the brightest students I have come across. Undoubtedly, they will go on to create their own life-changing ventures and solve the problems in their communities. Overall, we are very happy with the results that the summer cohort has managed to achieve in this short time. And to the students, welcome to AUA!”
The Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) is a platform of the American University of Armenia (AUA) for promoting entrepreneurial education, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and startup venture incubation. EPIC provides an ecosystem for emerging entrepreneurs consisting of first-class facilities and collaborative workspace, programs and events, and a network of mentors, advisors, and investors. EPIC fosters the understanding and application of entrepreneurship in students and faculty at AUA to craft high-impact multidisciplinary ventures.
