As another academic year closes, we’re proud to celebrate a remarkable group of students who earned not only their Duke degrees, but also The Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Duke I&E) Certificate, a mark of their commitment to creativity, leadership, and impact. These students didn’t just study innovation and entrepreneurship, they put their learning into action. Through hands-on projects, interdisciplinary collaboration, and bold experimentation, they embraced the creativity and resilience that innovation demands.
What is the Duke I&E Certificate?
A The Duke I&E certificate is somewhere between a major and a minor in terms of the amount of time and effort required to complete it, and it is interdisciplinary by design. The Duke I&E Certificate includes two required courses (Strategies for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Capstone) and two electives from a choice of 70 in diverse fields such as public policy, health, business, engineering, and the arts. Students also must complete two learning experiences related to innovation and entrepreneurship, totaling 450 hours. Examples of experiences include developing a venture, working as an intern at an innovative company, doing research, engaging in the community, and completing independent projects. In short: the Duke I&E Certificate helps students set themselves apart with creativity, business skills, and the ability to turn ideas into action.
Meet the Next Generation of Innovators
Duke I&E certificate holders are engineers starting social ventures, public policy majors designing civic tech solutions, artists launching creative platforms, and scientists exploring how to bring their research to market. They are builders, dreamers, and changemakers, ready to take on the world with empathy, resilience, and action. At this year’s reception for the Duke I&E certificate, Director Jamie Jones addressed the graduating students and their families, “Whether they go on to launch startups, pursue graduate school, or lead inside organizations, your students are walking away from Duke with not just a diploma, but a mindset…one that says: I see a problem, and I have the tools to do something about it.”
Join Us in Celebrating
To all 202 students who earned the Duke I&E Certificate this year: we are so proud of your curiosity and your commitment to making a difference. Keep asking bold questions. Keep taking bold action. And wherever you go, keep building what matters. Your work has already made a mark on Duke, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll do next. Congratulations, Class of 2025!