Preparing Students for Entrepreneurship Careers

Abstract

Statistics show after completing a degree program most minorities have formidable challenges in obtaining employment on a global scale. This issue spans our three (3) countries USA, Chile, and Kenya and our main solution to the high rates of unemployment is job creation through entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship (creation and innovation) is being recognized as a key factor for economic development and additionally the SMS sector has become a relevant tool to achieve a substantial economic growth. Medgar Evers College, City University of New York (MEC-CUNY), a recognized Institution for economic development & entrepreneurship with the hope of finding a solution to the unemployment of our young graduates has launched partnerships with both Industries and Universities on a global basis. MEC-CUNY has organized and launched two international conferences on Corporate Social Responsibilities and Social Entrepreneurship empowerment with the participants the academy and industry. Entrepreneurship Capacity building in institutions that serve minorities has been a challenge with few sustaining outcomes. MEC-CUNY has developed a comprehensive and integrative approach, one that combines multiple co-curricular activities including entrepreneurship training; business plan pitching; and study abroad to countries such as China, Thailand, Japan, Kenya, Jamaica and Dominican Republic. MEC-CUNY has forged collaborations with Kenyatta University (KU) and has created a solid and formidable network of innovators to assist in this drive towards self-employment in entrepreneurship. Currently, approximately seventy small businesses have been created and given technical support in Kenyatta University who has also made changes in the student curricula as well as given incentives to the academic staff to undertake research on entrepreneurship. Both MEC-CUNY and the Kenyatta have collaborated so as to make available valid tools to measure the outcomes of both academic staff and students. Similar experiences are being made in some countries in South America and Latin America. In this presentation we will share an analysis of the data, significant findings on motivators and challenges for student entrepreneurs, and environmental factors that may contribute to pursuing entrepreneurial careers.