Entrepreneurship
Historically, huge amount of resources have been allocated to higher education students (in both graduate and undergraduate programmes) to educate them about entrepreneurship and prepare them for entrepreneurship. However, as a result of certain life circumstances, there are millions of people worldwide who do not have access to similar opportunities or privileges.
Social Technopreneurship exists to close that gap. Our entrepreneurship education programs target three groups of community: (1) Secondary/high school students; (2) vulnerable, unemployed or inactive individuals (potential entrepreneurs); and (3) informal. micro- or small enterprise owners (practicing entrepreneurs).
Secondary or High School Students
In classrooms worldwide, entrepreneurship education should play a prominent role in preparing students for the workforce and becoming responsible citizens capable of making sound decisions that will benefit their personal and professional lives.
Ultimately, all students will participate in an economic system. Hence, they need to be literate in business and entrepreneurism to be successful. Education for and about entrepreneurship offers students the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills needed to succeed in business and in life.
Vulnerable, Unemployed or Inactive Individuals
Governments’ involvement with this target population is most commonly characterised by direct funding, or enabling other social welfare organisations to offer financial assistance. In such instances, the public good is mostly tied to program objectives like empowering individuals to gain employment, thereby reducing poverty and enhancing equity.
Yet the global landscape of work and employment has changed so much that it is no longer sufficient nor effective to assume there will be enough jobs to go around. More jobs need to be created through the establishment of new businesses – startups that would address societal and environmental challenges using business methods and technological advancements.
Informal, Micro- or Small Enterprise Owners
People who are informal, micro- or small enterprise owners may already possess basic entrepreneurship skills to run their own small business. Considering their experience and position within society, they are best placed to acquire advanced entrepreneurship skills that are essential to grow their business from a self-sustenance stage to creating employment for others and contributing to the wider economy.
While their entrepreneurial capability can be specific to a particular discipline or context, and will vary in scope and degree between different disciplines and business requirements, entrepreneurial effectiveness is likely to be achieved with continuous active experimentation, increased self-efficacy, and the ability to connect the dots to innovate and offer creative solutions to challenging and complex problems.