The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) began programming in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 2013 with the understanding that improving the conditions for women’s economic empowerment in PNG requires a supportive ecosystem of interconnected institutions that possess both the gender lens to identify the unequal barriers faced by women and the commitment to proactively democratizing opportunities for all. Through ongoing partnerships with the Australian and U.S. governments, CIPE is implementing a cutting-edge women’s economic empowerment program in a country where women face daunting obstacles. To help create a broader “entrepreneurial ecosystem,” CIPE is operating the Women’s Business Resource Centre (WBRC) in Port Moresby, working with PNG universities to integrate entrepreneurship into formal curriculum, and providing technical assistance and advocacy trainings to women’s business organizations.
To support the CIPE PNG Grant Program, GBSN is organizing a workshop that includes three interactive modules designed to explore mini-case studies completed by GBSN based on the work of its member schools that are relevant to the small grant projects of Papua New Guinea schools.
Papua New Guinea Universities
Three following three schools partaking in this initiative have developed their own programs.
The Pacific Adventist University (PAU)
Program: Company Directors Training and Compliance Workshop
Program Goals:
- To create of awareness about entrepreneurship among the university students
- To support them to develop entrepreneurial aptitude through their own innovative ideas
- To help them to translate the innovative ideas into viable business proposals.
IBSUniversity
Program: The Students Entrepreneurship Program (StEP)
Program Goals:
- To provide opportunities for interested students, in particular women, who are in the entrepreneurship and business program.
- To provide an opportunity for participating groups to support their start-up ideas.
- To incubate the start-ups until they become sustainable and independent.
University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG)
Program: Innovative Business & Entrepreneurial Ideas Competition
Program Goals:
- To create of awareness about entrepreneurship among the university students
- To support them to develop entrepreneurial aptitude through their own innovative ideas
- To help them to translate the innovative ideas into viable business proposals.
Development Workshop
Three interactive modules will be tailored to illustrate cases with reference to the small grant project offered by the CIPE team to its partners. Each of the mini-case studies will serve as examples from GBSN Member schools of entrepreneurship related programs or activities that are relevant to the PNG projects. The mini-case studies will be provided to workshop participants. GBSN CEO, Dan LeClair will facilitate three interactive modules within a larger workshop umbrella. Each module will feature 1-2 guest speakers representing one of the mini-case examples. The length of each module will be between 60 and 75 minutes.
The three modules will have the following themes:
- Generating interest and helping students to build ideas/concepts and make pitches (including basics of a pitch competition)
- Helping students to convert ideas/concepts to viable business plans (education modules, mentoring and basics of a business plan competition)
- Helping students go to market / move from plans to implementation (registering your business, business incubation, mentoring, and funding connections)
GBSN Members Schools Leads the Way with Innovative Entrepreneurship Initiative:
Moderator
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Dan LeClair, Ph.D
CEO
Global Business School Network
USA
Guest Speakers
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Mahreen Mamoon
Assistant Professor
BRAC Business School
Bangladesh
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Joshua Ault
Assistant Professor of Global Entrepreneurship
Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University
USA
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Rob Mitchell
Associate Professor
Colorado State University
USA
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John Williams
Director of the Bachelor of Entrepreneurship
Otago Business School
New Zealand
About the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is a business-oriented NGO working at the intersection of democratic and economic development and partnering with business associations, chambers of commerce, think tanks and other civil society organizations to implement homegrown, business-led solutions to local development challenges. CIPE’s mission is to strengthen democracy through private enterprise and market-oriented reform, fulfilling a vision of a world where democracy delivers the freedom and opportunity for all to prosper. CIPE is active in 20 countries through its field offices and representatives and has a network of partners in more than 60 countries. It carries out programs in the following focus areas: Anti-Corruption and Ethics; Business Advocacy; Democratic Governance; Enterprise Ecosystems; Trade; and Women’s Economic Empowerment.