UDSM commits on youth employment
DAR ES SALAAM: THE University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has come up with a fresh initiative to train youth who have entrepreneurship skill three years after they graduated.
UDSM, the country’s leading university, introduced the programme, Graduate Entrepreneurship Programme (GEP) to up business skills of those who have graduated and already ventured in business.
The university believes that students are not taking serious entrepreneurship studies during their degree courses, but after facing the real world challenges, they become the best learners to learn business skills.
The UDSM Business School (UDBS) Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Director Prof Hannibal Bwire said the classes aimed at giving the youth the abilities to identify opportunities and leverage them to create sustainable businesses.
“This training is part of the university to support the youth while addressing unemployment challenges in the country,” Prof Bwire, told journalists on Wednesday.
The training themed ‘Turning Challenges into Opportunities’ will involve graduates from all higher education institutions in the country with entry requirement starting at diploma level.
The training, according to the business school, will take part in nine regions starting at Dar es Salaam on Monday before going to Arusha, Kigoma, Kagera, Dodoma, Iringa, Lindi, Pemba South and Unguja Urban West.
In total, the almost 20-day training, is targeting to reach out 1,200 graduates and each class will have 50 participants and it is free of charge.
UDBS’ Entrepreneurship Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Coordinator Dr Winnie Nguni said the training involves tutors, who are business experts and technocrats from both government and private institutions.
The programme came after the business school conducted several similar training in house the results were superb.
One of the pilot training beneficiaries, Mr David Nkini said apart from gaining business knowledge from business guru the programme connected him with several financial institutions.
“Despite graduating, many of us lack even business idea but now, I am sure, almost all 250 participants are entrepreneur,” said Mr Nkini.
The collaboration institutions are Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO), Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA), the Tanzania Trade Development Authority (Tantrade) and the representative from municipal councils where the training will be held.
