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Impact and Engagement

Venture Lab and Pitch Competitions

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Management students interested in entrepreneurship develop business ideas, participate in pitch competitions, and engage with the RU Venture Lab. These experiences help students turn concepts into viable ventures and build entrepreneurial skills valued in any career path.

Management Beyond the Classroom

Experiential Learning

Internships and Applied Coursework
Students gain hands-on experience connecting classroom knowledge to real-world challenges across local and regional businesses.

Consulting Projects
Collaborate with businesses on real engagements — building your professional portfolio while solving actual problems.

Industry Conferences
Students attend professional conferences — from emerging tech to HR leadership — building networks with industry practitioners.

Pitch Competitions and Venture Lab
Develop and pitch business ideas in front of industry judges, with real prize funding on the line.

Our Students in Action

Venture Lab

Bringing Ideas to Life

The Venture Lab is the hub of entrepreneurial activity at Radford University - connecting students, faculty, and community partners across a full ecosystem of programs that take ideas from spark to scale.

  • ENTR-Ships

    Internships and mentorships connecting student entrepreneurs with real-world founders, investors, and business leaders.

  • High School Entrepreneurship

    Through Junior Achievement and community partnerships, RU students bring entrepreneurship education into high school classrooms.

  • Entrepreneurship Learning Community (ELC)

    A living-learning community where entrepreneurially-minded students collaborate, build, and hold each other accountable from day one.

  • IdeaFest Poster Pitch

    An annual event where students present early-stage business concepts via posters. The launchpad where ideas are tested, feedback is welcomed, and ventures take shape

  • Innovation Challenge

    INNO26 puts student ventures in front of real investors and judges. Teams compete with investor-ready pitches for prize funding.

  • Consulting Projects

    Student consulting teams partner with real businesses - applying classroom strategy to live challenges and building a professional portfolio.

Distinguished Faculty

Our faculty bring deep professional experience alongside academic expertise - holding industry certifications, national awards, and active memberships in the professional organizations that shape their fields.

  • Management faculty have earned recognition for teaching excellence, applied research contributions, and service to the business community at local, regional, and national levels.

  • SHRM-CP / SHRM-SCP; PMP - Project Management Professional; Design Thinking Certified Practitioners; and Six Sigma and Lean Process Certifications

  • Our faculty publish in peer-reviewed journals, present at national conferences, and partner with regional organizations on applied research - bringing current scholarship directly into the classroom.

Professional Development and Certifications

Our faculty hold and our students pursue industry-recognized certifications that set them apart in the job market. The Management program integrates certification preparation directly into coursework — so you graduate with credentials employers recognize and value.

  • Project Management Professional (PMP)

    The PMP is the world's leading project management certification, recognized by employers in every industry. Management students gain foundational project management skills aligned with PMI standards — positioning them for roles requiring structured planning, execution, and leadership.

  • SHRM Certification (SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP)

    The Society for Human Resource Management certification is the gold standard in HR credentials. Our HR concentration is aligned with SHRM's HR Curriculum Guidebook — giving students a strong foundation for SHRM-CP certification and careers in talent management, employee relations, and workforce strategy.

  • ExperienceInnovation Design Thinking Certification

    Design Thinking is a human-centered problem-solving methodology used by leading organizations worldwide. Through ExperienceInnovation's immersive learning platform, students earn a Design Thinking certification — developing the creative and analytical skills to drive innovation in any industry or role.

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