UPDATE:
Dr. Rowland has since won the award for Ernst & Young "Emerging" Entrepreneur of the Year 2008.
Please click here for further details.
Dr. Seán Rowland, President of Hibernia College, has been shortlisted for the Ernst & Young 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year® award. Over 115 entries were received and nominees were subsequently interviewed by Ernst & Young, followed by rigorous assessment by a 12-strong panel of judges, chaired by telecoms entrepreneur, and previous recipient of the award, Mr. Denis O’Brien.
Dr. Rowland was nominated for his work with Hibernia College, Irelands only accredited online college, which he founded in 2000. Domestically, the college is best known for its Higher Diploma in Arts in Primary Education which now graduates more qualified primary school teachers than any other course in the country. However the college also has international courses in areas such as Pharmaceutical Medicine and Financial Management and has students in over 20 countries worldwide.
Announcing the shortlist, Enda Kelly, Ernst & Young Partner-in-Charge of the Programme said “Entrepreneurs play a vital role in economic development and act as invaluable role models for a new generation of entrepreneurs. Our finalists all display exceptional entrepreneurial vision, and it is important that we celebrate and recognise their achievement. Their creativity and risk-taking ability acts as the very foundation of our economic prosperity”.
Dr. Rowland, a native of Co. Mayo and a graduate of Harvard University and Boston College is among a shortlist of 24 entrepreneurs nominated for the award. The winner will go forward to represent Ireland in the World Entrepreneur of the Year competition where winners from 40 countries compete for the world title. On hearing of his nomination, Dr. Rowland commented, “I am very excited and honoured to be nominated for this award and look forward to the challenges and opportunities that it brings.”
For more information about the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award 2008, click here.