Dublin City University Ryan Academy: A Public-Private Partnership in Entrepreneurship Education

Abstract

The Dublin City University Ryan Academy (DCURA) is a non-profit partnership between Dublin City University (DCU) and the Ryan Family of the Ryanair Company. The academy offers three types of curricular EE: (1) master degree programmes for social entrepreneurs and unemployed professionals, (2) entrepreneurship training programmes for researchers, farmers and other professionals, and (3) four specific accelerator programmes for leaders from start-ups with high growth potential, for female start-up leaders, for DCU students starting a business, and for new enterprises in the payment industry. Until 2014, DCURA also offered a Certificate at Honours degree level for unemployed professionals. Hence, DCURA offers different EE programmes for different target groups with a core EE content and specific adaptations. The strengths of the DCURA partnership may be in the autonomy, flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit of the academy combining academia and practice. The main prerequisites for such a partnership to work successfully were found to comprise a shared vision, commitment and contributions of both partners including funding, and a commercial and relationship-oriented leadership.