Project Title

Entrepreneurship Education and Skills Development through School-based Productive enterprises; Has it worked for women?

Sponsor/Donor

International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Client

International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Implementation Partners

LEAD Pakistan

Starting Date

October 5^th, 2009

Project Duration

18 months

Project Focus & Outreach

Women and girls studying in vocational schools interested in entrepreneurship development.

Project Objectives

•        To develop a sound theoretical understanding of revenue generating, school based productive enterprises as a model for delivering vocational and entrepreneurial skills

•        To examine the impact of this model of training delivery on women in terms of skills development, employability and livelihoods through field based research in developing countries with similar gender and economic profiles to Pakistan.

•        To analyse the suitability of replicating the model in Pakistan, identify a suitable women’s vocational school/college and develop a strategy and business plan to set up an institute based on the same model.

•        To share findings with stakeholders, including government, development organisations, educationists, training providers and students, in order to increase awareness of and understanding about this model and its replicability.

Project Brief

This research will examine if and how entrepreneurship training and skills development through revenue generating, school based, productive enterprises have impacted women positively, and to use the findings to suggest the establishment of a vocational school along similar lines for women in Pakistan. Field data will be collected from two schools in Paraguay, both of which are world class examples of this model of entrepreneurship education. This will be supported by a field appraisal of Pakistani institutes interested in replicating this model, and the development of a business plan.

Project Targets:

1. To develop a research report explaning the model of entrepreneurship education through school-based enterprises and impacts and outcomes for women.

2. To develop a business plan for a girls’ vocational school in Pakistan where the model could be replicated.

Project Location:

Desk Research, Islamabad; field visit, Paraguay; Pakistani institute appraisal, to be decided.