Assessing impact of a Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for African entrepreneurs
The development of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been slow compared to the rest of the world, and a lack of investment in human capital development emerges as a prevalent reason. Oklahoma State University provided a six-week-long entrepreneurship education program (EEP) for participants from SSA; man...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Advancements in Agricultural Development Inc
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Advancements in Agricultural Development |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://agdevresearch.org/index.php/aad/article/view/297 |
| _version_ | 1797767383482368000 |
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| author | Alexander J. Smith M. Craig Edwards Craig E. Watters Matthew W. Rutherford |
| author_facet | Alexander J. Smith M. Craig Edwards Craig E. Watters Matthew W. Rutherford |
| author_sort | Alexander J. Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been slow compared to the rest of the world, and a lack of investment in human capital development emerges as a prevalent reason. Oklahoma State University provided a six-week-long entrepreneurship education program (EEP) for participants from SSA; many had agricultural or food businesses. Approaches to entrepreneurship education is a well-debated topic in the literature, including how best to evaluate such. We conducted a study in which 12 entrepreneurs were interviewed about nine months after the program’s end. Transcripts were analyzed using Epoche, horizontalization, phenomenological reduction, and imaginative variation. Themes, sub-themes, and an essence emerged. The themes were improvements, changes, and challenges to their business models; self-improvement and empowerment; and social change. Building the capacity of socially responsible entrepreneurs for a new Africa was the phenomenon’s essence. Future research should assess the impact of business knowledge attainment on the long-term success of entrepreneurs and identify learning experiences motivating them to practice social entrepreneurship. EEPs should stress rigor and an ethos of accomplishment, conduct site visits, and provide opportunities for community service. Interventions to negate the marginalization frequently experienced by women entrepreneurs in developing contexts are also discussed.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:37:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-331643a94db348a0b8a4f94449c31df8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2690-5078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:37:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Advancements in Agricultural Development Inc |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advancements in Agricultural Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-331643a94db348a0b8a4f94449c31df82023-08-01T11:35:22ZengAdvancements in Agricultural Development IncAdvancements in Agricultural Development2690-50782023-07-014310.37433/aad.v4i3.297Assessing impact of a Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for African entrepreneursAlexander J. Smith0M. Craig Edwards1Craig E. Watters2Matthew W. Rutherford3Oklahoma State University, USAOklahoma State University, USAOklahoma State University, USAOklahoma State University, USAThe development of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been slow compared to the rest of the world, and a lack of investment in human capital development emerges as a prevalent reason. Oklahoma State University provided a six-week-long entrepreneurship education program (EEP) for participants from SSA; many had agricultural or food businesses. Approaches to entrepreneurship education is a well-debated topic in the literature, including how best to evaluate such. We conducted a study in which 12 entrepreneurs were interviewed about nine months after the program’s end. Transcripts were analyzed using Epoche, horizontalization, phenomenological reduction, and imaginative variation. Themes, sub-themes, and an essence emerged. The themes were improvements, changes, and challenges to their business models; self-improvement and empowerment; and social change. Building the capacity of socially responsible entrepreneurs for a new Africa was the phenomenon’s essence. Future research should assess the impact of business knowledge attainment on the long-term success of entrepreneurs and identify learning experiences motivating them to practice social entrepreneurship. EEPs should stress rigor and an ethos of accomplishment, conduct site visits, and provide opportunities for community service. Interventions to negate the marginalization frequently experienced by women entrepreneurs in developing contexts are also discussed. https://agdevresearch.org/index.php/aad/article/view/297business developmenthuman capitalphenomenology |
| spellingShingle | Alexander J. Smith M. Craig Edwards Craig E. Watters Matthew W. Rutherford Assessing impact of a Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for African entrepreneurs Advancements in Agricultural Development business development human capital phenomenology |
| title | Assessing impact of a Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for African entrepreneurs |
| title_full | Assessing impact of a Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for African entrepreneurs |
| title_fullStr | Assessing impact of a Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for African entrepreneurs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing impact of a Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for African entrepreneurs |
| title_short | Assessing impact of a Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for African entrepreneurs |
| title_sort | assessing impact of a mandela washington fellowship institute for african entrepreneurs |
| topic | business development human capital phenomenology |
| url | https://agdevresearch.org/index.php/aad/article/view/297 |
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