News: Teaching entrepreneurship

Rural news this time focuses on different programs for teaching entrepreneurship.

USA universities take on entrepreneurship
But can they teach you anything valuable? Yale University is changing their business education program after stinging criticism that they don’t teach useful skills. Expect more focus on entrepreneurship.

Our friend Pat Matthews weighs in.

“The challenge universities face,” Matthews continues, “is that it’s nearly impossible to learn about entrepreneurship or small business in a classroom environment. Colleges need to work closer with the business community to let students see the real world as much as possible, as early as possible. Businesses, universities and students will all benefit from a tighter relationship.”

Amen, Pat!
Read the rest of the article in the Blue Ridge Business Journal. Found via Pat’s Small Town, Big Ideas.

Swaziland’s entrepreneurship clubs for high school students
A decidedly different approach to educating future entrepreneurs is taking root in Swaziland, profiled in the Swazi Observer. Clubs for 16 to 24 year olds will add entrepreneurship to their existing school curriculum.

“We want to promote self confidence, independence and drive amongst these girls such that they do not rely on white collar jobs but their own sustainable businesses,” explained [Sylvia Mthethwa], also owner of Progress Stationery and Furniture.

Not surprisingly, every school wants to be part of this. Can it work? Read another article in the Swazi Observer for profiles of women succeeding in raising pigs. Think that is too different from your situation? I would be that with training and support, a sustainable local business could be built in raising small herds of organic or other value-added pigs, right in your area. We aren’t as different as you think!

India puts entrepreneurship into vocational/technical education
This quote from Punjab Newsline says a lot about what technical education can be.

The objective of technical education in 21st century has always been to prepare highly skilled workforce for enterprises and to encourage professional and students to consider ‘self employment’ as a career option. Also training in entrepreneurship for optional courses has been the aim of technical education in India.

Value added coconuts!
Read the Sun Star article about training rural residents in the Philippines in value added coconut fiber production. Then read about the program in in Tanzania training rural women in agro-technology and food businesses. The women have launched 40 new brands!
[Women in Tanzanian market, by eismcsquare on Flickr.]

USDA rural business grants could fund teaching entrepreneurship
The USDA offers Rural Business Opportunity Grants for:

technical assistance for business development and conducting economic development planning. The grants are available to public bodies, non-profits, federally recognized Tribal groups and cooperatives.

Read more and get the link from the Neuces County Record Star.

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About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.