DkIT Business Student Secures Place on New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme

25 March 2020

Turning a business idea into reality is a challenge for anyone, but for one young undergraduate Bachelor of Business (Hons) student, on the collaborative Level 8 degree between DkIT and Monaghan Institute (MI), that challenge has become a reality. Linda Meegan, a second-year degree student has secured a place on Enterprise Irelands New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme at DkIT. New Frontiers is delivered on campus by the Regional Development Centre (RDC).

In 2015, DkIT and MI launched the collaborative degree, where students from Monaghan and the surrounding areas can complete Year 1 & 2 of the three year Bachelor of Business (hons) Degree in Monaghan Institute. The BB (hons) degree, which has presented enormous opportunity to learners since its inception, enables students to complete the final year within DkIT. A new intake of students is due to commence in September 2020.

New Frontiers is Enterprise Irelands national programme for developing entrepreneurs and is delivered at a local level by DkIT in partnership with DCU Invent. The programme aims to assist the development of early stage innovative start ups .

Linda’s idea combines a small device with an app for the home and potentially the commercial oil heating sector.

According to Linda,

“oil is still a major source of home heating in Irish homes with some 43% of rural homes still relying on oil as the main source of heating”.

The device can be easily adapted for bio fuel, thus allowing homeowners to monitor remotely oil levels. Linda had the idea two years ago, but it was last semester when she undertook a module in Applied Market Research along with the help of her lecturer, Dr. Kate Johnston, the research confirmed the idea had real potential.

Speaking about her project, Linda noted;

“The research method module we studied during Year 2 not only enabled me to scope out the size of the potential market but also that there was no real competition. My lecturer suggested I apply for New Frontiers . Up until then I wasn’t sure how to proceed. I wasn’t even aware of the New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme but I thought why not!”

Certainly the three year BB (hons) degree played a huge part in this success.

According to Linda

“the DkIT degree run in Monaghan Institute played a huge part along with my lecturers, particular Kate Johnson and Maeve Caraher, who have supported me throughout the last two years. We are a small group so we have a really supportive learning environment and this has been crucial”.

Speaking on Linda’s success, Head of Department of Management and Financial Studies at DkIT, Shane Hill, observed

“We are delighted with Linda’s success and wish her all the very best with her innovative product idea. The BB (Hons) delivered in partnership with MI affords learners the opportunity to learn through applying theoretical concepts to real life business. Linda’s success is a good example of this approach to learning”

Going forward, Linda will combine her full time degree programme and the New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme . According to Linda

“I know this is a great opportunity but would not have been possible without the knowledge and insights gained so far during my degree programme and the support and guidance from my lecturers both at DkIT and Monaghan Institute”.

More information on New Frontiers can be found at www.newfrontiers.ie or by contacting Martina Goss, New Frontiers Programme at newfrontiers@dkit.ie Further information on the full range of supports for start ups at the RDC can found at : https://www.dkit.ie/innovation-and-business/supporting-start-ups.html

For more information regarding the Business courses at DkIT please visit dkit.ie/courses