BISHOP’S UNIVERSITY CELEBRATES SUCCESS OF ESTRIE-PRENEUR PROGRAM

Bishop’s University is pleased to highlight the end of the second year of the Estrie-Preneur program, which enjoys the partnership of Desjardins, the Williams School of Business of Bishop’s University and the Dobson-Lagassé Entrepreneurship Centre.

Estrie-Preneur was created in 2015 thanks to the $200,000 gift from Desjardins, which contributed an additional $50,000 for bursaries, to the “Leading the Way” capital campaign. Every year, and until 2020, four businesses located in the Eastern Townships benefit, free of charge, from the work of two entrepreneurship students who work, during an 8-week internship, on a project submitted by the entrepreneurs.

“This program gives our students the opportunity to witness first hand the challenges that businesses face”, says Francine Turmel, Dean of the Williams School of Business. “It gives them hands-on experience in a local business, and in turn the company receives innovative solutions. We’re delighted to see that the program is having a positive impact for both the businesses and the students, and that our partnership with Desjardins and the Dobson-Lagassé Centre is bearing fruit.”

Mr. Jessy Melançon, Manager, Commercial and Industrial Market Business Development of Desjardins Entreprises, emphasized that this was yet another example of the organization’s commitment to education and entrepreneurship. “Desjardins is very proud to be linked to Estrie-Preneur. Innovation and audacity are two qualities that entrepreneurs must show when creating a business, and those qualities are surely beneficial for the economic and social development of a society. We recognize that building the next generation of entrepreneurs is critical to the health of the economy.”

The eight students who participated in the program were helped and coached by Vincent Cloutier, a lecturer at the Williams School of Business and instructor and supervisor for the second year of the Estrie-Preneur program. “The students who participated in the program impressed me a great deal throughout their internship. They deserve much credit for the exemplary seriousness and rigour they showed. They also applied the knowledge they gained during their time in class,” said Vincent Cloutier.

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For additional information:

Chantal Sneath
Communications Officer
Bishop’s University
csneath@ubishops.ca
819-822-9600, ext. 2840

Vincent Cloutier
Instructor Supervisor
Estrie-Preneur 2017 Program
Vincent.cloutier@ubishops.ca
819-446-1617