There’s something rather special about IEEC. Each year, enterprise and entrepreneurship educators gather together and suddenly, ideas start flying, collaborations spark, and the energy in the room feels a bit like someone’s just plugged the conference into the National Grid. But what really sets it apart is not just the buzz in the moment, it’s the way IEEC nurtures the community to look forward, grow stronger, and build better futures for our students and founders.

This year’s conference, IEEC2025, was no exception. If anything, it may have raised the bar yet again. Delegates described it as “inspiring”, “energising” and “the best IEEC yet.” Those words don’t just give you the warm fuzzies (though they certainly help soften the thought of the looming academic year). They remind us that this gathering is more than a conference: it’s a space that cultivates openness, learning and growth.

Claudia Filsinger from Creo Incubator captured this perfectly: “I’m really impressed by the collaboration, the sharing, the openness, and the future focus. Everyone is really thinking about how we can best support students and founders moving forward.”

That nurturing and future focus is what keeps IEEC so fresh. It’s not about self-congratulation, though there’s plenty to celebrate, but about turning to face the future and asking the big questions: how do we create truly inclusive enterprise education? How do we equip students for opportunities that don’t yet exist? And how do we nurture ecosystems where universities, businesses and communities work hand in hand?

Of course, nurturing doesn’t mean things are slow and gentle. IEEC is also about sparks and the lightning sessions brought exactly that. Asif Majid from Sheffield Hallam University summed it up: “Some of the sessions, particularly the lightning ones, were absolutely amazing… we learned so much from each other.” These rapid-fire exchanges are proof that short, sharp bursts of energy can also help us grow.

So, as #IEEC2025 draws to a close, what’s the verdict? The packed notebooks, LinkedIn love and smiling delegates say it all: IEEC continues to be a place where collaboration is nurtured, openness is celebrated, and the future is embraced with both optimism and determination. Until next year — keep nurturing, keep sharing, and perhaps start plotting your lightning talk now.

Dr Emily Beaumont
Associate Professor of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
Head of REF
Past President of Enterprise Educators UK
Vice President (Education and Practitioner Learning) of the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship