President Michael Murphy Encourages Students to 'Drop Out & Start Up'

UCC President Michael Murphy has stated that he would actually encourage some students to drop out of college in pursuit of setting up their own businesses. Murphy said if students could benefit society through the creation of products, services and technologies and create jobs then he would encourage them to drop out. He continued that those who drop out can always return to education. "I was always impressed by a line from the movie 'The Social Network', "it is better to create a job than find one". Dr Murphy's opinion echoes that of Silicon Valley billionaire, Peter Thiel, who set up a fellowship to pay promising students 100,000 dollars to drop out of college and start companies instead. In an interview with journalist John Kennedy, Murphy stated that "the university is focusing more on turning research into actual products and services and is reaching out to its wider graduate population to help it start up", explained Murphy.The university is one of the first European centres which has formed an alliance with the prestigious Blackstone Launchpad, an entrepreneurship programme that is kicking off on campus. Murphy continued that "it is designed to provide walk-in support to any student or graduate who has an idea to mentor them and encourage some of them to drop out"."It is the case in my view that young people with very good ideas that have clearly met a need in society should be encouraged to do that at an early stage - because they can always return to education". Murphy further went on to say that he feels college is not for everyone and that some people can exploit their talents much more successfully uncontaminated by higher education.Recalling an honorary conferring ceremony in UCC two years ago with Graham Norton, Fergal Keane, Donald Molloy and Demot O'Mahony, Murphy stated that "among the four people being conferred, one had been a drop-out, one did not receive enough points to attend university and one failed his exams and yet there we were honouring all three of them".Murphy said that UCC has a tradition of independent thinking and went back to George Boole; " he never had a formal education and if he had gone to Cambridge, as some suggested, he may not have retained the independence of thought which led to his success".When asked what he felt his peers in other Irish universities would make of a fellow academic encouraging students to drop out, Murphy replied "I'm sure some of them would have preferred to have said it first"Murphy is encouraging a new way of thinking when approaching working life. He feels we should encourage young people to view things from unusual angles. "We have tried to shape the most recent generation to create their own jobs and not just look for a job at the end of their time in university".As he nears the end of his term in office in 2017, Murphy reflected on the challenges of leading one of Munster's largest institutions. Part of his success has been attributed to his open management style - holding open forums every three months to discuss the various challenges with the staff. What is echoed in his 'drop out start up theory' is Murphy's mantra of "Get away, young man", when it comes to equipping the current generation for the challenges in life. Joe Kennedy, SU Education Officer, responded to Murphy's statements saying "If you do encourage students to drop out to start a business it can't just be 'goodbye and good luck', there needs to be continued support and an actual route to re-enter university, I think UCC could do more on that front".It appears that this "Get away" theory of dropping out in search of business opportunity is Murphy's key to success. Murphy stated when asked his opinion of what it takes to be an effective university president stated that "it is not a position for anyone who craves popularity". When asked for further details on his theory Dr. Murphy was unavailable for comment.