How to Host a Successful Student Innovation Event: A Step-by-Step Guide

Photo by Jason Goodman on Unsplash

By Simon Sætre Borchgrevink, Higher Executive Officer & Lars Reyes-Gjølme, Senior Advisor,

Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, NTNU

Organizing an innovation event for students can be an incredible opportunity to inspire creativity, showcase career paths, and bring together students and industry professionals for hands-on learning. Here’s a guide to creating a dynamic and impactful event that engages students and offers value to industry partners.

  • Duration:
    6 hours 
  • Focus:
    Engaging experience that fosters students’ innovative thinking and provides industry insights and potential career pathways.
  • Activity:
    Group
  • Keywords:
    Students event, Creativity, Hands-on learning

About the exercise

This is a step-by-step guide to organizing an innovation event that engages students and offers value to industry partners. The goal is to inspire creativity, showcase career paths, and bring together students and industry professionals for hands-on learning.

Learning objectives

  • To inspire creativity among the students
  • To showcase career paths
  • To bring together students and industry professionals for hands-on learning

Steps

1. Identify a Niche with Broad Appeal
Purpose: Choose a theme that resonates with students’ interests and has diverse applications in the industry. For example, topics like gaming, sustainability, or digital innovation can draw in students from various disciplines. 

Example: In a gaming-themed event, students interested in technology, design, and sound engineering could explore their passions while learning about real-world applications in gaming careers, from VR and esports to game development.

2. Find a Passionate Core Team
Purpose: Find one or two champions for the event who are deeply passionate about the chosen theme – Either a student or a faculty member. Their enthusiasm will drive the planning and execution, inspiring others, and ensures the event will happen regardless of scope and scale.

Example: A student passionate about gaming could lead an innovation event by connecting with peers and showcasing the gaming industry’s scope, from streaming to digital arts.

3. Partner with Student Clubs or Organizations
Purpose: Partnering with relevant student clubs can significantly increase engagement and provide a built-in audience. These groups often bring knowledge, connections, and a network of interested participants, and will also work hard to create a great event for their peers. The most important aspect of partnering up with a student organization, is to give ownership or mandate to the students. 

Example: Partnering with a university esports team allows for authentic engagement and positions the event as a part of the student community, making it more relatable and exciting.

4. Secure Industry Partners and Funding
Purpose: Partner with companies that value the skills and themes being highlighted in your event. This not only helps fund the event but also provides students with direct access to potential employers. There is also a difference between sponsors and partners. The partners need to be invested both with funds, as well as people. The people that join the event from the partner side must be aware of the event’s theme and support that 100%. This is not just a branding opportunity for the partner. 

Example: Collaborate with a tech company interested in gaming skills for industry applications. This allows students to see how their gaming passion can translate into a viable career.

Key Elements to Include in Your Event

Inspiration Through Talks from Industry Leaders
Plan: Start the day with talks from industry professionals who share their journeys and insights into the industry. This sets a motivating tone and provides students with role models to look up to.

Example: Invite a game developer to talk about how they turned a passion into a career or a designer to share how gaming skills apply to various creative fields. 

Interactive Sessions & Skills Showcases
Plan: Follow talks with hands-on workshops, showcases, or demonstrations. Allow students to present their own projects or ideas, creating an environment of shared learning and celebration of skills. 

Example: Set up a “showcase zone” where students can demo their own games or apps. Industry attendees can provide feedback and scout for talent, or otherwise get to know the innovation ecosystem.

Networking Opportunities and Informal Social Events
Plan: End the day with networking sessions, Q&A panels, and/or a social event. This casual setting encourages students and professionals to mingle and discuss ideas outside of a structured session. 

Example: Host a mini-tournament or gaming session in the evening, providing an opportunity for students to relax, engage socially, and connect with industry professionals in an informal setting often in a new location.

Photo by on SFU Engage

Final Tips

  • Create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere: ensure students feel comfortable participating, asking questions, and showcasing their projects.
  • Keep the schedule balanced: mix between inspirational talks, practical sessions, and downtime. Avoid overwhelming the attendees with back-to-back activities. 
  • Gather feedback for future events: send out a survey or host a feedback session to learn what worked well and where you could improve.
  • Debrief with core team members: debrief with team, looking at feedback, pros and cons, and start planning for the next successful event. 

By following these steps, you can create a student innovation event that not only celebrates passion and creativity but also provides meaningful insights into how these interests can lead to career opportunities.

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