NMMU BUSINESS SCHOOL SENIOR LECTURER PARTICIPATES IN INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME AT UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO

NMMU Business School senior lecturer Dr Margaret Cullen extended NMMU Business School’s international research and academic networks at the International Entrepreneurship Program hosted in the United States by the Institute for International Business at the University of Colorado Denver this month.

Dr Cullen collaborated and interacted with programme facilitators including Walter Kuemmerle, former professor at Harvard Business School and international expert in entrepreneurship and private equity, Professor Patricia McDougall  from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, and Associate Professor of International Business and Management at the University of Colorado Denver, Prof Manuel Serapio, who consults to IBM, Starbucks Coffee International, Coors Brewing Company,  the US Department of Commerce and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation.

The International Entrepreneurship Programme’s objectives were to investigate international entrepreneurship frameworks and concepts, provide support on pedagogy for teaching international entrepreneurship courses, identifying resources for teaching and research and for the development of relationships with academic peers active in the field of entrepreneurship.

“The workshop was relevant for the development of a course in international entrepreneurship for NMMU Business School’s new MBA curriculum and as an executive development programme,” said Dr Cullen.

“It was relevant because South African businesses and entrepreneurs need guidance when they embark on the internationalising of their ventures. In this regard, NMMU Business School is responding and is addressing this need by branching into research and teaching to help entrepreneurs and by building international relationships with academic in entrepreneurship.”

She said that the event provided a platform for NMMU Business School to set up collaborative networking and teaching, establish a network of international examiners and to share experiences with the 35 attendees from 10 different countries.  

Dr Cullen said the main findings from the International Entrepreneurship Program were that the course NMMU Business School is offering in entrepreneurship is on par with other business schools, and that collaborative partnerships and sharing of best practices are essential for world-class business schools.   “Entrepreneurship remains relevant in all markets. The rules of business apply -  but the context of every market needs to be analysed.”