Entrepreneurship Through an Abrahamic Lens

Course Details

Course Description

This six-week course will be offered for the second time by the University of Connecticut (UConn) Lieberman Abrahamic Program at no cost. It will provide an overview of international entrepreneurship with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The course will explore how understanding the shared cultural histories in the region influences small business opportunities and the process by which new businesses are formed to respond to those opportunities. It will also highlight how Abrahamic virtues such as trustworthiness, empathy, and critical thinking, which are found in the teachings of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, contribute to entrepreneurial success.

The course will identify key traits of successful entrepreneurs in the MENA region and will help students learn practices that will provide them with the resilience needed for business success. It will draw on case studies of joint ventures in an increasingly integrated MENA region, with a focus on how to develop business development strategies. Along the way, we will explore MENA entrepreneurial ecosystems, including opportunities for mentoring and financing. Participants will work together in teams with students from Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, the UAE, and the United States.

In addition to the main presenters, the course will offer expert guest lectures and case studies. This will be a non-credit course open to students and early-career entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds. Participants will receive a UConn certificate upon completion.

Course Dates

May 19, 2026 to June 23, 2026

Meeting Times

Tuesdays at 9:00-1:00 AM (NY Time); 2:00-4:00 PM (Rabat Time); 4:00-6:00 PM (Damascus, Manama, Ramallah, Tel Aviv Time); 5:00-7:00 PM (Dubai Time)

Course Format

Online via Zoom

Course Outline

Week 1: Introduction to the Course and Getting to Know Each Other

Week 2: Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship

Week 3: The Spirit of Entrepreneurship and Shared Abrahamic Values

Week 4: Overview of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Resources, Support Systems, and Challenges

Week 5: Case Studies of Successful Joint Ventures

Week 6: Course Wrap-Up and Student Presentations

Organizing Committee

Headshot of Abdullah Antepli

Abdullah Antepli

President

Rothko Chapel

United States of America

Headshot of Danielle Aviran

Danielle Aviran

Acceleration and Partnerships Manager, Entrepreneurship Center

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Israel

Headshot of Sercan Canbolat, Ph.D.

Sercan Canbolat

Course Coordinator, Director of Abrahamic Programs, and Assistant Professor in Residence

University of Connecticut

Dana Gavish Headshot

Dana Gavish

Founder of Yazamut 360 Entrepreneurship Center, Ben Gurion University and VP Entrepreneurship at BGN Technologies

Israel

Headshot of Abdulla Al Hamed

Abdulla Al Hamed

Managing Partner

INTERMID

Bahrain

Rana Qaimari Headshot

Rana Qaimari

Palestinian Deputy Director & Program Manager

EcoPeace Middle East, Palestinian Territories

Palestine

Headshot of Yair Sakov

Yair Sakov

Founder and Managing Director

Entrepreneurship Center at Tel Aviv University

Morocco

Headshot of Daniel Weiner

Daniel Weiner

Vice President for Global Affairs & Professor of Geography

University of Connecticut

United States of America

Headshot of Wacim Ben Yahya

Wacim Ben Yahya

Head of Technology Transfer Office

Université Internationale de Rabat

Morocco

For more information, contact:

Sercan Canbolat, Ph.D.
Director of Abrahamic Programs
University of Connecticut
sercan.canbolat@uconn.edu

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