Press Release
U.S. Department of State Grants Additional $1.5 Million to the Beyster Institute at UCSD’s Rady School of Management for Middle East Entrepreneur Training Program
August 30, 2007
The U.S. Department of State recently granted the Beyster Institute at the Rady School of Management, UC San Diego $1.5 million in additional funding to continue providing entrepreneurship training and support programs for 16 countries and territories in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The funding is provided by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a presidential initiative that supports the aspirations of people in the region for greater freedom and opportunity through economic, political and educational reform.
The Institute’s work with MEPI has grown from an initial grant of nearly $1 million in 2004 for the Middle East Entrepreneur Training (MEET) program, a series of intensive two- to three-week training programs which combine training from university faculty and business leaders with networking opportunities, company site visits and exchanges with U.S. companies. To date the Institute has already received a total of over $8 million to continue that program and manage additional entrepreneurship projects for the MENA region.
"The MEET program continues to be a very important part of our regional strategy," saysSonia Franceski,Economic Pillar Managerof the U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative. "Entrepreneurship and strong organizational management are key in building strong communities and economies, and this program is producing great results byinspiring those practices throughout the region."
Over 250 MENA region entrepreneurs and business leaders have taken part in MEET training programs in San Diego and the MENA region. In June, the Institute launched the MEET Alumni Network website, an information and networking site where alumni continue to develop the many relationships and projects that have grown from the program. In the past year, MEET has been customized for the region’s civil society organizations (CSOs) to encourage entrepreneurship principles in the management and development of non-governmental organizations. At a unique event planned in September, the region’s CSO and business leaders will meet to determine common goals, pool resources, and plan for positive economic and social change in the region.
“Through the MEET program, some of the Middle East and North Africa’s most talented, high-potential business and civil society leaders have not only met and shared experiences and contacts, but are also building their enterprises, starting new companies, creating jobs and implementing advocacy activities for positive change,” says Ray Smilor, Executive Director of the Beyster Institute at the Rady School. “It’s an excellent business and civil society initiative that promotes reform in the broader Middle East, and we’re delighted to continue to extend the program’s reach and support alumni ties through this extension.”
In addition to MEET training programs, the Institute has presented several conferences for MEET alumni and two MENA businesswomen’s summits for the region’s prominent female entrepreneurs. Also through funding from MEPI, the Institute established eight MENA businesswomen’s “hubs” which serve as regional training and networking resources for women business leaders.
The extended program period of October 2007 through August 2008 will include four additional MEET training programs in the MENA region (one of which is specifically for CSO leaders) and a networking and development event for MEET alumni.
The Beyster Institute serves as the key center for entrepreneurial thought and activity at the Rady School and is the only such university-based center to integrate both employee ownership and entrepreneurship. More information is available at www.beysterinstitute.ucsd.edu.
|
