The course, Entrepreneurship, has been offered to Ethiopian students of higher education in limited departments, such as management, Accounting, Agriculture and Engineering. However, as part of high education reform, it was decided the course, Entrepreneurship, to be one of the common courses for all freshman students. It aims to bring behavioral changes among students and support them develop self-employment mindset in their personal and professional lives. Among other things, it was also decided to prepare common teaching material for the course so that students may learn and instructors teach the course using the same material.
For the task of preparing this teaching material, four subject matter experts have been drawn from Addis Ababa, Gondar, Haramaya and Wollo Universities. The team members prepared this teaching material by working severally and in-group both for writing and editing. Course instructors are also expected to prepare additional cases, get access to videos and make the teaching process as learner centered. Such efforts may create entrepreneurial generation in Ethiopian economy in this digital age.
This teaching material consists of seven chapters as prepared by more than 25 subject matter experts drawn from many universities. Chapter one deals with nature of entrepreneurship. Chapter two addresses the concept of business planning. Chapter three discusses about business formation in terms of ownership. Chapter four is about product development using systematic and procedural approach. Chapter five treats basics of marketing. Chapter six, tries to identify the sources of financing for startup and when decided to grow. Chapter seven gives basics of business ethics and corporate social responsibility including the transition from start up to growth.
The time given for the subject matter experts for the preparation of the material was very limited. The members feel that the teaching material may not be complete in all aspects. Comments are welcome from students and instructors for making improvements in the quality of the material in the years to come.
- Teacher: Shimelis K