Entrepreneurial Training and the Rise of Micro-Credentials

2022 ◽  
pp. 123-144
10.33117/514 ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-108

Purpose-This paper examines the nature of services and processes of business incubation. Its specific objectives are to establish the nature of services offered by business incubation centers in Uganda, examine the incubation process and to establish the perception of business incu- batees about business incubation services using a case of FinAfrica a private social enterprise. Methodology-This paper presents findings from one incubation center FinAfrica as a case study. Ethnographic design is adopted while observation and interview methods are used to collect data. Results-Key services offered by FinAfrica incubation center include entrepreneurial training, provision of office space, legal and accounting services, mentoring, coaching, entrepreneurial networks and general office administration. The centre has a unique business incubation model which starts with motivating people to start businesses, capacity building, business registration, and ends with graduation after attaining capability for self-sustainability. Incubatees perceive the services offered by the incubation centre as helpful through training, affordable office space, entrepreneurial ecosystem and opportunities for a lean startup. Implications- While this study does not offer statistical inferences for generalisation because of the qualitative design and single case, the exploration of FinAfrica provides insights about how Incubation centers need to plan for positive and sustainable entrepreneurial impact for startups. There is need for more Government and other development partners’ involvement in business incubation and post incubation support for competiveness and growth. Originality/value- This study provides insights about the key services offered in the incubation process and provides insights into the perceived benefits of business incubation. It also contributes to literature about business incubation with practical evidence from an emerging economy whose focus is on private sector development and innovation promotion.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 593-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fayçal Boukamcha

Purpose – This paper aims to clarify the impact of the entrepreneurial training on a Tunisian trainee’s entrepreneurial cognitions and intention. An interactive cognitive perspective was adopted to test the interaction effect between the entrepreneurial cognitions: the perceived entrepreneurial self-efficacy, the perceived entrepreneurial feasibility and entrepreneurial desirability. A research model was built showing several relationships between entrepreneurial training, cognitions and intention. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted on a convenience sample of 240 participants in four business incubators. The maximum-likelihood test was used as a structural equation modeling method to test the model. Findings – The results show the importance of the entrepreneurial training in the development of entrepreneurial cognitions. Further, the findings, to some extent, validate the interaction between the entrepreneurial cognitive patterns. However, entrepreneurial intention was only predicted through the entrepreneurial desirability. Several implications are discussed at the end of this paper. Practical implications – The findings seem interesting insofar, as they show the importance of entrepreneurial trainings in the entrepreneurial intention development through the enhancement of desirability. This process can be triggered by a training program that contains case studies, success stories and conferences to make the youth enthusiastic about self-employment. Originality/value – The significant impact of the entrepreneurial training on trainees’ cognitions should encourage governments and incubators to promote entrepreneurial training programs to enhance the youths’ willingness to create their own businesses. The findings in this paper seem interesting insofar as they show the importance of entrepreneurial trainings in the entrepreneurial intention development through the enhancement of desirability. This process can be triggered by a training program that contains case studies, success stories and conferences to make the youth enthusiastic about self-employment.


Author(s):  
Stan Renard ◽  
Gianluca Zanella

Although there has been a proliferation of metrics to evaluate arts incubators, the academic field is still developing. Different models and methods of education are applied to the complex phenomena of arts incubators; therefore, it is crucial to measure the effectiveness of education programs from many different perspectives. Our aim is to propose a metric that can estimate the effect of each incubator activity based on the geospatial distribution of its participants. This GIS-based metric will provide a descriptive measure for the quantity and density of the geographical communities affected by the incubator’s activity as well as a socio-economic and demographic benchmarks. Our study investigates 14 US-based arts incubators that offer entrepreneurial training to their associated 1,087 incubatees. The goal of this study is to provide a metric that can assist arts incubators, program directors, arts administrators, and university programs assess program growth as well as funding and marketing efforts.


2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 811-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan P. Miles ◽  
Huibert de Vries ◽  
Geoff Harrison ◽  
Martin Bliemel ◽  
Saskia de Klerk ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address the role of accelerators as authentic learning-based entrepreneurial training programs. Accelerators facilitate the development and assessment of entrepreneurial competencies in nascent entrepreneurs through the process of creating a start-up venture. Design/methodology/approach Survey data from applicants and participants of four start-accelerators are used to explore the linkages between accelerators and the elements of authentic learning. Authentic learning processes are then mapped onto the start-up processes that occur within the accelerators. Findings Accelerators take in nascent entrepreneurs and work to create start-ups. This activity develops the participants’ entrepreneurial competencies and facilitates authentic self-reflection. Research limitations/implications This study explores how accelerators can be useful as authentic learning platforms for the development of entrepreneurial competencies. Limitations include perceptual measures and the inability to conduct paired sampling. Practical implications Entrepreneurship training is studied through the lens of authentic learning activities that occur within an accelerator. Participants develop and assess their mastery of and interest in entrepreneurship through tasks, exposure to experts and mentors, peer learning, and assessments such as pitching to investors at Demo Day. Originality/value This paper reports on the authentic learning processes and its usefulness in competency development and self-appraisal by accelerators participants. The opportunity for competency development and self-appraisal by nascent entrepreneurs before escalating their commitment to a start-up may be an accelerator’s raison d’être.


Author(s):  
Irina Radulescu ◽  
Alexandru Radulescu

The European Commission has published in 2020 the SMEs Strategy for a Sustainable and Digital Europe that aims to increase the number of SMEs engaged in sustainable business practices, as well as the SMEs number that use digital technologies. Important opportunities for SMEs can be provided by digitization, to improve the production processes efficiency and the ability to innovate products and business models, by using advanced disruptive technologies. Good management is needed for a successful SME, education and entrepreneurship training have the role of consolidating business knowledge and skills. Educational activities and skills upgrading are essential for all SMEs managers and employees. Romania is on the last place in EU, regarding SMEs number and it ranks 11th place out of 28, in terms of connectivity. Regarding the digital maturity of Romanian SMEs, the White Papers on Romanian SMEs presents their main working elements: computer, e-mail applications, internet, intranet, social networks, the company's own website, online sales / purchases transactions. The objectives of the Bachelor's degree specialization of Economic Engineering in Mechanical field and Industrial Entrepreneurship Master are students training and education, in order to be able to sustain digitization and sustainable technologies. The university curriculum and the educational disciplines offered by the Economic Engineering in Mechanical field specialization and Industrial Entrepreneurship Master is connected to the society requirements and must follow the economic trend, by educating, training and getting good specialists. Keywords: SMEs development, education, entrepreneurship


Author(s):  
Segun Okuta ◽  
Josephine Musa Dawha

The desire of Federal Government of Nigeria and the world over is the building of a better world in the 21st century, where the economy of the nations would be seen to have developed by quality of high level manpower produced by higher institutions of learning. Therefore, educators of tertiary institutions must prepare for entrepreneurial training that will richly transform the economy. In discussing the challenges of Automobile Technology in entrepreneurship development, the paper examines the concept of entrepreneurship development, the roles of government and non-governmental organizations, challenges of Automobile Technology in entrepreneurship development such as lack of practical based curriculum and inadequate funding. The paper also offers suggestion that curriculum should be frequently reviewed and adequate funding be provided.


Author(s):  
Abede Jawara Mack ◽  
Daniel White ◽  
Osiris Senghor

AbstractTechnical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) serves as a pillar for economic stability globally. Entrepreneurship education provides young people with essential skills that can be used in a positive manner, thus enabling them to be employers rather than employees. Marrying TVET and entrepreneurship education can help Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) in tremendous ways. These two subjects TVET and entrepreneurship can lift T&T to global prestige. Given this context, the study explored the benefits of exposing Post-Secondary TVET students to entrepreneurial training. An investigation was carried out using a mix-methods approach. The use of regression analysis and Spearman’s Correlation Analysis were used that determine the relationship between exposing Post-Secondary Technical Vocational Education and Training Students (PSTVETS) to entrepreneurship education and their interest in entrepreneurial training. Additionally, qualitative data was incorporated by utilising content analysis, focus groups and semi-structured interviews. The data revealed there was an absence of entrepreneurship education. Upon further investigation there was no real entrepreneurship culture or framework implemented within the PS schools. The results also showed the more students are exposed to entrepreneurship education more they are inclined to pursue entrepreneurship endeavours. Data also allowed the reader to grasped copious challenges experienced within TVET in T&T, that impacts on entrepreneurial training within post-secondary institutions in T&T. The researchers put forward an entrepreneurship education model that can be incorporated in the training of post-secondary schools. Additionally a strategy was articulated as to how entrepreneurship education can be adopted within the training of post-secondary institutions. Providing an adequate framework for entrepreneurial training within entrepreneurship education, and TVET provides originality and contribution to the field of TVET and entrepreneurship education.


Author(s):  
Олена В. Птащенко ◽  
Юлія М. Тер-Карапетянц

To ensure success in promoting entrepreneurship among the unemployed it is critical to provide effective government support for those citizens who wish to start their own business, create favourable environment, including relevant financial, lending, tax policies, etc. Apparently, due to inconsistent SME legislation, high tax burden, uncertainty in business development, the effectiveness of vocational entrepreneurial training for the unemployed remains low. The paper provides an overview of unemployment rate by age along with the analysis of contemporary labour market trends in the context of implementating specific technology of vocational training for the unemployed. The research findings evidence that rapid technological changes challenge dramatic effects globally, thus triggering the need for totally new skills and professions. This situation in the labour market drives a particular focus to the latest learning technology advances, education marketing development, designing study programs for employable population of Ukraine to ensure new skills and competences building. Recent dramatic changes in Ukraine’s education system, further evolution of education services market and progressive marketing learning technologies implementation contribute to transforming education into a growing and promising sector of the economy which year by year increase the size of supply and demand for education services. Currently, the education services market as a public sphere drives media to establish and maintain strong and close relationships between its participants. In conclusion it is emphasized that modern institutions of higher education cannot be imagined without mediated patterns and diverse forms of communication as well as special tools to enhance communication between its various actors.


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