NOVA Medical School brought the well-known 'Shark Tank' business attraction model to academia, providing a unique platform for final-year Nutrition Science students to present themselves to the job market.
The Nutrition Shark Tank aimed to represent an environment where academic knowledge was transformed into tangible and innovative proposals. A stage where recent graduates had the opportunity to present visionary projects with solutions to different problems in the area of Health to an audience of potential employers and possible investors. Inspired by the popular format of the existing TV show, this event highlighted the entrepreneurial spirit of the graduates.
Designed in partnership with Nova SBE's Health Economics & Management Knowledge Center, the "Nutrition Shark Tank" is an innovative model that was attended by "sharks" from the business world, such as CUF, Nestlé, Eurest, Super Bock, Diaverum, SLB, Abbott, Sonae, Jerónimo Martins, FIPA, Sumol Compal, among others. These experts assessed the projects submitted by six groups of students, involving a total of 15 finalists. The projects were put to the test by the panel of sharks, with the nomination for best pitch going to the audience present.
"This NOVA Medical School initiative, developed in partnership with Nova SBE, reflects the commitment of both institutions to innovation and academic excellence and the positioning of both schools with society and, in particular, the health ecosystem. The event not only highlights the skills in the areas of innovation acquired throughout training, but also prepares students for the real challenges they will face in the world of work. Since the first year we presented the Nutrition Science graduates, we have made a point of having formats that strengthen the link between academia and the job market. We want these young people, whom NOVA Medical School is handing over to the job market, to be able to position themselves as emerging leaders in the field of nutrition," says Conceição Calhau, Coordinator of the Degree in Nutritional Sciences at NOVA Medical School.
"As a public university, we give back to society better citizens, more humane, more attentive, more capable and with the spirit of being part of solutions. These graduates of ours, we are sure, will play an important role in society," she adds.
The Nutrition Shark Tank symbolizes our vision of education that goes beyond the classroom and offers students the opportunity to turn ideas into concrete solutions. This partnership between Nova SBE and NOVA Medical School is an important step towards strengthening the link between academia and the market, thus promoting the success of our future professionals." - Nádia Ahmad, Executive Director of Nova SBE's Health Economics & Management Knowledge Center.
In previous years, the model of presenting graduates to the job market has had potential employers present and has resulted in several companies hiring them, namely Nestlé, Eurest and Diaverum.
The event was presented by Conceição Calhau, Full Professor at NOVA Medical School, and Pedro Pita Barros, Full Professor at Nova SBE.
The "Nutrition Shark Tank" took place on June 28 at the Thalia Theater in Lisbon.