Episode 6: A Bright Sunshiny Day at Founders U

In this latest episode of the podcast sector legend Mary Curnock Cook dreams up a challenger institution which is something she wants to turn from imaginary to real. Whilst the branding might need some work, Founders University (FU?) is going to offer a distinctive prospectus for ambitious entrepreneurs, students who want to start their own companies or indeed want to learn about funding others' start-ups.

Mary acknowledges that it will be a tough sell, not least because of the base in Swindon, but believes the emphasis on collaboration, an agile approach to learning and curricular co-creation will really appeal to partners (which is what learners are called here). On offer then is a very different set of business pathways with learning happening in sprints and lots of scrums too. Admission is by pitch combined with other screening but the programmes would be really demanding and guaranteed to lead to positive outcomes. 

VCs would provide funding and the VC would be a CEO to avoid confusion. There will be a Chancellor though. There would be a strong emphasis on partner self-organisation and the principal disciplinary sanctions would be reserved for shirkers who let their teams down. 

It's a bold vision for a very different kind of challenger university and we can certainly see clearly now why Mary's ambition is to make it real rather than imaginary.