Hosted in one of the most dynamic and historic cities in Europe, this year’s IEEC exceeded expectation, from the quality of the sessions to the vibrant networking atmosphere. Over the course of three days, Belfast became a hub for creativity, collaboration, and innovation, bringing together enterprise educators and professionals to collaborate, iterate and reflect on our own practice.

As someone passionate about fostering entrepreneurship in education, I left with new insights, valuable connections, and a renewed sense of purpose. Here’s a reflection on some of the highlights:

1. The Belfast Backdrop: A City of Innovation

Belfast was the perfect setting for IEEC 2024. The city’s transformation from an industrial powerhouse to a burgeoning creative, tech and startup ecosystem mirrors the very essence of enterprise education. From the moment I arrived, the energy was palpable. For those lucky enough to head on the pre-conference Startium tour, hearing about the city’s vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, and Belfast’s fusion of history and modernity, made it an inspiring host city.

2. A Packed Programme with actionable insights

What made this year’s IEEC particularly memorable was the variety. Each day was packed with engaging keynotes, practical workshops, and thought-provoking panel discussions. I was a track chair with Dr Salman Ahmad on the Enterprise & Entrepreneurship in the Curriculum 6b track. Our key learnings from a host of workshops for impactful E&E in the curriculum included:

• The importance of train-the-trainer programmes, delivered at the right time, right place and with the right content;
• Frameworks, Frameworks, Frameworks – from levels of embeddedness (Wingate), articulation of learning outcomes (EntreComp), or assessment rubrics;
• Threshold concepts by Lucy Hatt et al: What do students need to know in order to be able to do?;
• Pedagogical (heutagogical) approaches to teaching inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurship including using Scaffold cards from the team at UWTSD and the IDEA framework from the UoM Masood Entrepreneurship Centre.

The best part of the conference? I left each session with pages of notes, new ideas to bring back to my own work, and a fresh perspective on where enterprise education is headed.

3. Looking Ahead: The Future of Enterprise Education

A recurring theme throughout the conference was the future of enterprise education, and it was clear that we are on the cusp of some exciting developments. One of my personal highlights was (as always) the session led by Alison Price on emerging policy landscape which this year was set to a backdrop of an increasingly challenging Higher Education environment.

The changing context of higher education and our role was also highlighted by the research led by EEUK Director Emily Beaumont on the Realities of Being an Enterprise Educator. Parallel sessions and keynotes on sustainability, inclusivity and social impact also resonated with me, highlighting the growing importance of meeting students where they are and enabling them to make a positive impact on society. As we look toward the future, it’s clear that entrepreneurship education is evolving beyond profit-driven models and embracing broader, more inclusive definitions and approaches.

4. Final Reflections

IEEC is more than just a conference—it is an energising experience that inspires me before the busy start of the academic year. Once again, I came away with a deeper understanding of the global trends shaping the field, new ideas to implement at my own institution, and, most importantly, a network of incredible individuals committed to driving positive change. If you’re involved in enterprise education or entrepreneurship in any capacity, attending IEEC should be at the top of your list. I’m already counting down to IEEC 2025!

EEUK Director
Senior Enterprise Consultant, UWE Bristol