ID :
183969
Tue, 05/24/2011 - 05:50
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/183969
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UNIVERSITY OFFERS TO PART-FINANCE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME FOR AFRICAN STUDENTS
By Mohd Khairi Idham Amran
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - Binary University College is allocating US$1 million in scholarships for a programme to finance African students in entrepreneur development studies to help create skilled entrepreneurs who will support the development of enterprises in their home countries.
Under the programme known as the "Entrepreneurship Programme 50-50 or EP 50-50", the college will offer to jointly share and sponsor each African student sponsored by their respective governments.
Its Vice-chancellor Prof Joseph Adaikalam said the programme was part of the smart partnership ethos advocated by Malaysia during the Langkawi International Dialogue and Southern African International Dialogue since 1995.
"EP 50:50 is a smart partnership programme aimed at eradicating poverty through creating entrepreneurs," said Joseph, who has been a regular participant at the dialogue both in Langkawi and Southern African countries.
He told Bernama in an interview at the university campus in Puchong Jaya Monday that EP 50-50, which encompasses an eight-week training programme createdonly for African countries, is expected to be officially launched during the Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) 2011 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) from June 19 to 21.
The actual programme covering a study period of eight weeks along with industrial training will then start in October, he said.
Further benefits from the programme by creating entrepreneurs will include creating jobs and minimising unemployment, especially among African youths.
Entrepreneurs create jobs for themselves and the people around them, thus reduce the unemployment rate which is a major problem in Africa, he said.
"50-50 means 50 per cent we pay, 50 per cent the African countries pay. It is not a diploma or degree programme, but it is a hands-on practical-oriented programme," he said.
The 50-50 concept is in line with the spirit of LID which stresses the importance of smart partnership rather than outright assistance.
Joseph said, like Malaysia before, many African nations now have the vision of moving towards a middle-income economy but were limited by a lack of entrepreneurs in the private sector.
This is a challenge for African leaders to fulfil their vision by investing in the development of human capital and create entrepreneurs, he said.
The college is aiming to play its role in creating human capital in the area of entrepreneurship to support the national development vision of African nations.
Although EP 50-50 is only for African nations, the course at full fees is open for students from any nation.
This will also go a long way towards enhancing networking and interaction among students from different nationalities as well as from Malaysia, he said.
Binary University started offering entrepreneurship programmes in 2005 but students are from Malaysia and other countries while the number of African students was minimal.
As such, EP 50-50 will provide more opportunities for potential students from Africa to participate in the training programme, he said.
To date, there are 2,800 students pursuing their studies in the university and 28 per cent of them are international students including from African countries such as Libya, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - Binary University College is allocating US$1 million in scholarships for a programme to finance African students in entrepreneur development studies to help create skilled entrepreneurs who will support the development of enterprises in their home countries.
Under the programme known as the "Entrepreneurship Programme 50-50 or EP 50-50", the college will offer to jointly share and sponsor each African student sponsored by their respective governments.
Its Vice-chancellor Prof Joseph Adaikalam said the programme was part of the smart partnership ethos advocated by Malaysia during the Langkawi International Dialogue and Southern African International Dialogue since 1995.
"EP 50:50 is a smart partnership programme aimed at eradicating poverty through creating entrepreneurs," said Joseph, who has been a regular participant at the dialogue both in Langkawi and Southern African countries.
He told Bernama in an interview at the university campus in Puchong Jaya Monday that EP 50-50, which encompasses an eight-week training programme createdonly for African countries, is expected to be officially launched during the Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) 2011 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) from June 19 to 21.
The actual programme covering a study period of eight weeks along with industrial training will then start in October, he said.
Further benefits from the programme by creating entrepreneurs will include creating jobs and minimising unemployment, especially among African youths.
Entrepreneurs create jobs for themselves and the people around them, thus reduce the unemployment rate which is a major problem in Africa, he said.
"50-50 means 50 per cent we pay, 50 per cent the African countries pay. It is not a diploma or degree programme, but it is a hands-on practical-oriented programme," he said.
The 50-50 concept is in line with the spirit of LID which stresses the importance of smart partnership rather than outright assistance.
Joseph said, like Malaysia before, many African nations now have the vision of moving towards a middle-income economy but were limited by a lack of entrepreneurs in the private sector.
This is a challenge for African leaders to fulfil their vision by investing in the development of human capital and create entrepreneurs, he said.
The college is aiming to play its role in creating human capital in the area of entrepreneurship to support the national development vision of African nations.
Although EP 50-50 is only for African nations, the course at full fees is open for students from any nation.
This will also go a long way towards enhancing networking and interaction among students from different nationalities as well as from Malaysia, he said.
Binary University started offering entrepreneurship programmes in 2005 but students are from Malaysia and other countries while the number of African students was minimal.
As such, EP 50-50 will provide more opportunities for potential students from Africa to participate in the training programme, he said.
To date, there are 2,800 students pursuing their studies in the university and 28 per cent of them are international students including from African countries such as Libya, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
