10.1 The education system: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

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References: Learning to change: Skills development among the economically vulnerable and socially excluded in developing countries - By International Labour Organization

Over 690 vocational training centres are registered with the Vocational Education
and Training Authority (VETA),38 over 90 per cent of which are either private businesses
or NGOs. VETA centres do offer skills training courses suitable for self-employment
(tailoring, batik making, housekeeping, etc), but UDEC (2003) states that the primary
emphasis on training is for employability in large public and private enterprises. Because
there are few jobs available, most of the VETA graduates go unemployed or are
inadequately trained for entrepreneurship. Data on the proportion of women students is
not available.

In the university context in Tanzania, key informants from the University of Dar es
Salaam reported that seven per cent of their students (1997 study) were running
businesses while attending university, but that not many have the skills and interest to
start a business. Micro-enterprises operating in the informal economy, which is what
most students perceive as “entrepreneurship”, is not seen as being that attractive to them.
Since the University of Dar es Salaam Entrepreneurship Centre (UDEC) began its
operations on campus in 1999, it has been lobbying the university to offer courses in
entrepreneurship. In December 2001, the university adopted a policy on entrepreneurship
development. The policy states that entrepreneurship will be promoted to all students
through activities that will: (i) improve their level of enterprising behaviour; (ii) develop
an awareness of and interest in business/enterprise; and (iii) develop their skills in
starting and managing an enterprise, including access to support networks.

To support this new policy, UDEC has trained about 70 lecturers in “enterprising
teaching strategies”. An entrepreneurship and small business management course is
offered in the Faculty of Commerce and Management, and an entrepreneurship course is
offered to all engineering students. During their third year of study, all students at the
university will have the opportunity to take a business planning course, although not all
students have access to it at this time (this is a capacity issue).

With respect to female enrolment at the university, UDEC key informants indicated
that about one-third of the commerce students are women, 40 per cent of MBA students,
and 50 per cent of arts students. Taking special measures to ensure that these female
students participate in entrepreneurship courses is likely to create the seedbed for the
next generation of growth-oriented women entrepreneurs.

1.2 Mission Objectives: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

8.0 Promotion of women’s entrepreneurship: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

10.0 Training – business management and technical skills: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

1.3 Methodology: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

1.1 Background and Introduction: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

Wanted: jobs for Africa’s youth - Broadening consultation

4.0 The state of women’s enterprises in Tanzania: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

16.0 Closing comments: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

13.0 Business environment issues: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

4.2 The profile of growth-oriented women: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

7.0 Policy/programme coordination and leadership: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

6.1 The informal sector: Gender Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness in Africa 2007

5.4 Inclusion of women in the SME Development Policy: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

4.1 The situation of women in MSMEs: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

17.0 References: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

15.0 The state of research on women in MSES in Tanzania: Support for Growth-oriented Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania, 2005

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References: Learning to change: Skills development among the economically vulnerable and socially excluded in developing countries - By International Labour Organization

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