Business School Turns Out Entrepreneurs
By Lyna Mohamad

Bandar Seri Begawan - Business incubator programmes were introduced as part of vocational and technical education (VTE) to help graduates of technical and vocational schools become more involved in the field of entrepreneurship, lessen the number of unemployed amongst their ranks as well as maximise human resources in diversifying the nation's economy.

This was stated by Pg Hjh Norashikkin Pg Dr Hj Amir Md Yussof, an entrepreneurship training officer, in her welcoming speech yesterday, at the opening ceremony of the Business Incubator Programme for its fourth intake of the Business School.

The guest of honour at the event was Dato Paduka Arkitek Hj Idris Hj Abas, a prominent business figure and a member of the Legislative Council.

Also attending the event were Awg Noorhaizamdin Hj Mosbi, the Director of DTE, Awg Ibrahim Hj Abd Rahman, Deputy Director of DTE, Principal Business School, Cikgu Habib Mohamad Hj Wan Junaidi, Principal of the Business School, Cikgu Sinda Hj Tia, the Acting Deputy Principal and invited guests from government departments and the private sector.

TI-7 Entrepreneurship Training Section, under the Department of Technical Education (DTE), was initially set up in 2000 and entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating the Entrepreneurship Training Programmes and managing the Enterprise Development Centre.

Micro/Small enterprise development came under the purview of the Enterprise Development Centre, through the introduction of the Business Incubator Programme for interested technical and vocational graduates.

However, in February 2005, the section was absorbed into the newly established VTE institution, the Business School.

The incubator programme for the seven participants of the fourth intake have been provided with 17 appointed mentors, 10 of whom are successful local entrepreneurs while the remaining seven are the school's teaching staff.

They will act as advisors to the participants of the programme, which is designed to produce young entrepreneurs from interested technical and vocational graduates through the Business Incubator Programmes.

Introduced in May 2001, the Business Incubator programme to date has helped six young entrepreneurs set up their businesses, all of whom were successful participants of the course and in May last year, a participant from the second intake successfully set up a business in producing Malay traditional cakes.

Another participant from the third intake will also be setting up their own business selling stationeries and providing photocopying services this September.

The two-year programme builds up the participant's confidence in running a business and once they graduate and set up their own business, assistance and consultancy support will continue to be provided for them if they require.

The programme consists of three phases, namely, the 'Entrepreneurship Development Programme', 'Preparing a Business Plan' and `Operating a Business in the Incubators'.

Activities range from visits to relevant government departments and the private sector namely BINA, „BIBD and the Registrar of Companies, the Legal Department, Operating "Business for a Day Activity", attending talks by invited speaker Pg Dr Hj Amir Md Yussof Pg Hj Abas, Livewire programmes on Bright Ideas, talks by representatives from the Municipal Department and briefings by their entrepreneurship training officers.

On conclusion of the first phase of the Business Incubator Programme, the participants will receive certificates of participation.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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