WUN Global Enterprise is a pioneering platform that provides a connection point to identify issues, stimulate initiatives and motivate leaders to deliver enterprise skills and practices in global business and social environments, to expand the impact and effectiveness of entrepreneurship in higher education. The Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the University of Illinois has been instrumental in helping to launch the WUN Enterprise initiative and develop its strategic mission.
Our Mission
To advance the impact of teaching, research and practice of enterprise in higher education, specifically focusing on globalization issues and opportunities. Drawing on the unique worldwide network provided by the WUN, it seeks to foster entrepreneurship by: (1) providing a global platform for worldwide entrepreneurial organizations, partners and thought leaders to come together and explore ideas and practice (2) influencing future policy on, and operation of enterprise outreach (3) shaping topics for the focus of social and commercial entrepreneurship concern through cross-institutional and trans-national innovation and collaboration.
WUN Enterprise Steering Committee
| Richard Williams | PVC for Enterprise, Knowledge Transfer and International Strategy, University of Leeds |
| Anthony Mendes | Executive Director, Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign |
| Min Zhu | President and Founder, Zhejiang University Innovation Institute International |
| David Pilsbury | Chief Executive Officer, WUN |
| Kimberly Sugden | Associate Director, Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign |
| Bing Liu | Director for UK-China Strategic Collaborations, University of Leeds; Director of East Asia Liaison, WUN |
About WUN Enterprise
The Worldwide Universities Network Enterprise initiative delivers unique value to academics/faculty, students, researchers, administrators, and other external organizations/companies, because it provides the first forum in which to establish, compare, contrast and disseminate entrepreneurial development and best-practices across a network of global universities. As an established global organization with a track record in fostering effective interdisciplinary international relationships, the WUN provides a strong base for cross-institutional collaboration in both social and commercial enterprise fields. WUN partners and their associates include some of the strongest research and educational centers in the enterprise field. Our strategic recommendations on the role of enterprise in higher education will help shape future policy and reinforce the importance of entrepreneurial learning and partnerships.
Our global focus connects leading national organizations into a central worldwide network, where partnerships in teaching, research and program administration can be strengthened and showcased. Additionally, the series of WUN Enterprise conferences in Chicago, Leeds, and Hangzhou have brought together international colleagues and opened critical dialogue about the growing role of entrepreneurship education and outreach. The significant outcomes and strategic proposals of the inaugural conference series will serve as a catalyst for future international events.
