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.
