Although some economist theorists may dismiss the idea, small locally owned businesses that support a family and have a few employees, are at the heart of successful communities throughout countries and ages. There are plenty of case studies on communities – even marginalized ones – that have reversed a downward development trend through the creation of an enabling environment for mobilizing local human capacities, promoting local entrepreneurship, production, and business. Research also shows that when these local businesses disappear, there is a tangible social and economic impact in the communities, with quality of life declining in ways that macroeconomics often fails to assess.
The University of the World offers Associate’s and Master’s degrees in Entrepreneurship and Innovation with a wide range of options to develop individualized Learning Plans. At the Associate’s level the program focuses on individuals who already own or work on a local business or cooperative and are planning to consolidate, diversify, or expand it. The business focus could be quite diverse, from local food processing, handicraft production, local ecotourism, a local transport company, a community radio station, an eldercare service or a kindergarten, etc. At the Master’s level, the program targets individuals aiming at improving the local environment to facilitate and promote local entrepreneurship and community initiatives. This may include a wide range of activities, from strengthening local capacities in cooperatives to develop their business plans and marketing strategies; advising local authorities in policy development; training change agents in facilitation, leadership, and organizational skills; and assistance to local microenterprises on technical aspects related to production, processing, and distribution.
These two degree programs offer students opportunities for strengthening entrepreneurial skills such as organizational management and communications, team work, financial literacy, market research, risk analysis, strategic planning and foresight, e-business, etc. The chances to learn directly from both experts as well as practitioners are unique. Team work in Learning Cohorts with a very diverse membership create environments that enable innovation and creativity. These degree programs also offer possibilities for Learning Plans that intersect with Local-to-Global Connectivity, Family Agriculture and including Home-centered Health.