UT Arlington Culture of Entrepreneurship Inspires North Texas Community

Through a number of partnerships within the business community, University of Texas at Arlington – College of Business has created a culture of entrepreneurship that benefits students, faculty and the city at large.

When it comes to the UT Arlington entrepreneurship culture, both students and faculty benefit from the school’s commitment to inventiveness.

Many faculty members at UTA and the School of Business have already demonstrated success as inventors. According to UTA vice president for research Duane Dimos, twelve faculty members across the university have been named fellows of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). Such proven success in innovation can no only be passed directly on to students, but also helps attract new faculty members. Most recently, former AT&T CTO Krish Prabhu has taken the role of research professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

For students interested in entrepreneurship, UTA has designed a specific curriculum to support an ecosystem of innovation among student, faculty and alumni. At the College of Business, entrepreneurship certificate programs give students the opportunity to develop the skills necessary for turning an idea into a business. The entrepreneurship certificate can be earned as part of either an undergraduate or graduate degree and includes courses such as Entrepreneurship in the Arts, Engineering Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation and more.

Also integral in supporting the UTA innovation economy is the existence of several innovation spaces, such as the FabLab, the first MIT-affiliated FabLab at a Texas university, supporting project-based and hands on STEAM engagement. Another form of support for the university’s entrepreneurs comes in the form of Innovation Events and Pitch Competitions, such as the annual InnovationDay@UTA event sponsored by the Office of Research or the CreaTEc Challenge which offers more than $10,000 in cash prizes and resources.

regions: Dallas

About the Author