Pictured above: Dr. Gideon Maas
Coventry University's Director of the Institute of Applied
Entrepreneurship (IAE) has been invited to share his experience of
entrepreneurship development at a workshop in South Africa next
month.
Dr. Gideon Maas will be facilitating a workshop on 5 October
organised by the University of Stellenbosch Executive Development
company (USB-Ed) about the challenges of developing the next
generation of entrepreneurs.
The purpose of the workshop is to inform potential training
facilitators how to assist people setting up their own businesses
in the rural environment.
South Africa is currently exploring ways to create jobs and
economic growth in its rural areas.
Dr. Maas who set up the Rural Entrepreneurship Project
partnership between Coventry University and USB-Ed will look at the
process of setting up support systems to foster entrepreneurship
throughout South Africa and will ask delegates to share their
experiences of setting up small businesses in poor, rural
communities.
Dr. Maas said: "Coventry is positioning itself as a global
university and has projects in other parts of the world, including
this one in South Africa.
"I am sure USB-Ed can learn from our experiences in Coventry
with our own programmes and translate them into promoting rural
entrepreneurship. High rural unemployment is forcing mass migration
to cities which is causing serious disruption of the socio-economic
wellbeing of people in both rural areas and cities."
Gideon Maas added: "Coventry University and the USB-Ed have
extensive knowledge and experience of entrepreneurship support and
so it seemed logical for us to work together to develop rural
entrepreneurship.
"I was delighted to be asked to do this "Train the Trainer"
workshop. The more we can learn about the pitfalls of starting up
new businesses and share our experiences, both good and bad, the
more we can improve it for the next wave of would-be
entrepreneurs."
The support of private and corporate businesses is necessary to
accelerate the development and implementation of this
initiative.
This project is sponsored by the British Council and BIS
(Department of Business Innovation and Skills, UK) as part of its
Education Partners in Africa initiative.
For more information about Coventry University, please visit
their website here: www.coventry.ac.uk