Broadlake and TU Dublin Entrepreneurship Course for Refugees
About this good practice
Problem Addressed
In Ireland, refugees and asylum seekers often face significant barriers to entrepreneurship, including limited access to finance, unfamiliarity with Irish business regulations, and challenges having their qualifications recognised. Such obstacles are compounded by language barriers and lack of professional networks, making tailored support essential for successful integration into the economy.
How Objectives are reached
TU Dublin offered a bespoke entrepreneurship course to meet the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland. From 270 applications, 48 students were selected (2023) and 20 students (2024) based on their business ideas. The course was delivered at Level 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications.
The fully online self-employment course, allowed participants the opportunity to attend as there were no accessibility and transport barriers. Lectures were recorded so participants could review when convenient, a help for students where English isn’t their mother tongue.
In 12 x 2-hour lectures, each broken 50:50 into content and guest speakers: one expert on the topic addressed and another a successful immigrant entrepreneur. Integration of role models inspired participants to believe they could also succeed. Each participant was allocated a mentor by the Open Doors Initiative and mentors met their mentee monthly to get feedback on their business plan.
Stakeholders: TU Dublin; Higher Education Authority; Broadlake & Open Doors Initiative
Resources needed
HEA invested €50k (2023); Broadlake (€30k, 2024) to accredit/deliver the 12 week entrepreneurship course for refugees and asylum seekers + €15k staff time (TU Dublin). Funds covered course development, accreditation, advertising, student fees & mentors. Experts & entrepreneurs provided inputs FOC.
Evidence of success
Entrepreneurship for Migrants Online Course impacts (2023 + 2024) were:
- 48 students (2023), 20 students (2024) from 21 countries, from Ukraine to Syria, were accepted on the courses.
- Each received comprehensive training, mentorship, and insights from 12 successful entrepreneurs and 12 expert speakers.
- 12 new (2023) and 5 new (2024) start-ups developed.
- Strong connections were developed with the Local Enterprise Office network to provide further financial/knowledge support to start-ups.
Potential for learning or transfer
The Broadlake and TU Dublin Entrepreneurship Course for Refugees can be reproduced and adapted to different contexts and countries to connect students with opportunities in their new home. Supporting and enabling these people to contribute, integrate, grow and connect within their new communities.
Professor Thomas Cooney, TU Dublin believes “Migrants arrive with a variety of education, career and entrepreneurial experiences that can be of benefit to the Irish economy if nurtured effectively They also have personal and professional contacts in their home country, plus a deep appreciation of its culture, that offers Irish-based companies a fantastic opportunity to export into new geographic markets. This course offers migrants the opportunity to develop an understanding of the processes involved in starting a business in Ireland which can lead to economic and social benefits for themselves and society more broadly.”
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