Starting a business is a viable career path that more college students are pursuing – before and after graduation. Likewise, university researchers are turning their discoveries into new commercial products and applications.

UALR students, faculty, and staff can explore entrepreneurship’s possibilities on campus during Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 16-20.

Now in its sixth year, Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.

Events will take place in more than 150 countries.

UALR’s Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will host a full schedule of activities during the week:

• Noon-12:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16:  kickoff event in Donaghey Student Center, Ledbetter A – Chancellor Joel Anderson will officially open Global Entrepreneurship Week with a proclamation and remarks. UALR grad, Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center client and local entrepreneur RJ Martino will speak briefly, and staff from the center will be on hand to answer questions about starting a business and being an entrepreneur.
• Noon Tuesday-Friday: Free lunch and learn sessions — speakers from the center will present lunch-hour talks at RBUS 251. Lunch will be provided at no charge for the first 25 attendees. Topics will include “The social entrepreneur” on Tuesday, “My student startup story” on Wednesday, “Commercializing your research” on Thursday and “Market research tips and techniques” on Friday.
• Tuesday-Friday: “Pop ups” around campus — staffers from the center will fan out across campus, setting up pop-up information stations in different academic buildings each day. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to stop by to discuss entrepreneurship, research commercialization or other startup-related topics, and learn more about the center’s free services for entrepreneurs. See the schedule here.

The center is marking its 35th year of service to Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses in 2015.

Funded through a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, UALR College of Business and other state institutions of higher education, the center assists with every aspect of business creation, management and operation.

Services include no-cost, confidential consulting and market research.

For more information about Global Entrepreneurship Week, visit this link.