Virtual Enterprise Conference
Thursday 25 - Friday 26 February 2010
Catrin Finch Centre, Glyndŵr University, Wrexham
Two of the UK’s top young entrepreneurs and a virtual world expert come to Glyndŵr University to promote e-enterprise in Wales’s first student virtual business conference!
Glyndŵr University’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning invites you to the first pan Wales virtual business conference. Over two days, participants will be immersed in the exciting opportunities of e-entrepreneurship.
The first day of the conference will focus on the opportunities available for entrepreneurship through web 2.0 and virtual business platforms, with stories from successful young entrepreneurs and virtual business experts as well as the chance for students to talk about their lives on the social web.
The second day of the conference will be held in Second Life, affording the opportunity to explore this amazing virtual world and what it can offer entrepreneurs. The details of the conference's virtual business competition will also be released on this day!
This conference is ideal for students and staff with an interest in: business and entrepreneurship, computing, internet technologies, social networking and web 2.0.
For Welsh universities all costs (including travel to Glyndŵr University) will be funded by the Welsh Assembly Government; for other UK universities a nominal charge will apply.
Day 1: Thursday 25 February
Day 1 will focus on the opportunities that virtual business and the new social web present budding entrepreneurs, as well as offering students a chance to talk about their lives in virtual worlds.
Featured talks
- Lucian Tarnowski: Founder of Brave New Talent and One Young World
- Hermione Way: Founder Newspepper.com & Techfluff.TV
- John Lester aka. Pathfinder Linder: Linden Lab’s Operations Director and Academic Program Manager
- Amy Louise Matthews: Second Life Entrepreneur
- Denise Oram: Senior Lecturer in Computing and Ethics
Call for presentations
On day 1 students will be invited to present on the topic 'Is there life in it for you? Your time in virtual worlds', discussing how they live, work and play (or how they would like to) using virtual worlds and web 2.0 technology (Facebook, YouTube, Second Life etc).
This could be a general overview or specific focus on one area of the student's life; what we are interested in is showcasing creative ideas and interesting stories.
This presentation could take any form students feel is suitable: a paper, blog, video etc. The only rule is that it must be no longer than 300 words (if written) and last no more than 3 minutes (video/audio).
There will be a prize given for the best overall presentation at the conference.
Day 1 agenda
9.30–10.00: Arrival / Coffee
10.00–10.15: Opening. Mary Bradley - Welcome, Purpose of Conference and H&S
10.15–11.00: Guest Speaker. Lucian Tarnowski - Gen Y and Web 2.0 New Business Opportunities
11.00–11.15: Break
11.15–11.45: Guest Speaker. Amy-Louise Matthews - Entrepreneurship in Second Life
11.45-12.30: Guest Speaker. Denise Oram – The Ethics of Virtual Business
12.30–1.30: Lunch
1.30–2.30: Interactive Student Workshops - Presentation of Papers
2.30–3.15: Keynote Speaker. Pathfinder Linden - Second Life Opportunities
3.15–3.30: Break
3.30–4.15: Guest Speaker. Hermione Way - My Life in Social Media
4.15–4.30: Close. Mary Bradley - Plenary, What Have We Learnt, Outline Day 2
Day 2: Friday 26 February
Day 2 will be held in Second Life, so you can attend from anywhere in the world! This will be an introduction to the amazing opportunities this platform can afford entrepreneurs. It will also include an announcement about the Virtual Enterprise Competition.
Content
- Second Life Orientation
- Competition Announcement
- Virtual Tour
In preparation for day 2 you will need to create an avatar in Second Life. We can support you to do this; there are also a number of online information sources you can access to guide you through the process:
- http://secondlife.com/whatis/avatar/
- http://www.ehow.com/how_2036821_avatar-second-life.html
- http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Create_a_Custom_Avatar_%28Video_Tutorial_Sequence%29
- http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Knowledge_Base
Competition
Day 2 will also include the announcement of our Virtual Business Competition.
Day 2 agenda
11.00–11.45: Orientation and Meeting – Using Second Life. Opening: Mary Bradley – Competition Announcement
11.45–12.45: Tour - Second Life Tour (TBA)
12.45–1.00: Plenary - What Has Been Learnt
Booking details
To book your place please contact:
- Matthew Draycott, Enterprise Associate
- Email: m.draycott@glyndwr.ac.uk
- Tel: 01978 293074
no later than Friday 19 February
- Please inform us as to the number of students / staff attending and inform us of any special dietary requirements.
- Please inform us of any students wishing to enter the presentation competition on day 1 and what format they will be presenting in.
Day 1 will be held at the Catrin Finch Centre on Glyndŵr University’s Plas Coch Campus, easily accessible by road and rail.
For Welsh universities, travel costs to Glyndŵr University will be funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. A form to claim these costs back will be available when you attend day 1 of the conference.
For all other UK universities, attendance will cost £35 per person or £120 for five people; attendance at day 2 in Second Life will be included in these costs. You will be responsible for arranging transport and accommodation if required.
