New space will connect learning and business opportunities for students

The BRIDGE sign in the Instructional Centre at U of T Scarborough.
A new space, called ‘The BRIDGE,’ will host opportunities to bring ideas from researchers, entrepreneurs and the community to students. (Photo by Raquel Russell)

Cellie Agunbiade

A new learning space on campus will connect learning to business at the ground level.

The BRIDGE – now under construction on the main floor of the Instructional Centre (IC) – will live up to its name by bringing together research, experiential education and entrepreneurship. 

BRIDGE is an acronym, where the first three letters stand for Business, Research and Innovation. Students can experience the new space when it opens in September.

“We are helping our students ‘bridge’ the gap and move forward in their careers by giving them the tools that they need to succeed,” says Professor David Zweig, Chair of the Department of Management.

The BRIDGE, a collaboration between the Department of Management and UTSC Library, will introduce a New Venture Program (NVP). The NVP will offer a series of programs that act as gates that students pass through in order to complete business or innovation plans. The goal is to prepare students for careers as entrepreneurs or as corporate innovators.

Bill McConkey, professor of strategy and entrepreneurship in the Department of Management, says these resources are technological, informational and intellectual.

The new space will have “bridging” systems for students which McConkey says includes “a management research lab, library, innovation lounge and an area for offices.”

The management research lab will have data, tools and software to give Management students expertise in trading strategies, financial modelling and data analysis. Bookable offices and work spaces will also be available to students.

Part of what makes The BRIDGE unique is that it is a space dedicated to providing students with a place to collaborate and engage with management faculty, other students and information professionals – which is where UTSC Library comes in.

“The BRIDGE will act as an information, business-focused location of UTSC Library,” says Victoria Owen, chief librarian at U of T Scarborough.

Through UTSC Library’s connection to U of T’s Library system – the largest academic library system in Canada – students will have access to a vast online database. In the new space, students will also have access to a physical collection of business books, magazines and newspapers.  

Students will be able to receive support from librarians and library staff working in the BRIDGE space to understand when and how to use research tools when creating a new business.  

“The library has experts in all the major areas of research, data, entrepreneurship and finance. With the library involved, it allows us to provide a high level of expertise that students can easily access,” says Stephanie Perpick, co-ordinator with The BRIDGE.

The BRIDGE will also invite professionals to workshops and seminars. This will benefit students in understanding what it takes to create a successful business.

“We are so excited that we have a new space that integrates a lot of our core activities and that will provide support resources for our students,” Zweig says.

Nine people who are involved in The BRIDGE.
Members of The BRIDGE team include David Fenton, Mariana Jardim, Bill McConkey, Victoria Owen, David Zweig, Elizabeth O'Brien, Bill Chau, Vinnie Abraham and Sarah Shujah. (Photo by Raquel Russell)